Now in its third year, the annual MLT Super 6 hour challenge took place near Gore over the weekend and was a great success with Justin Shaw and Andy Blanchard teaming up to take the win.

More than 95 teams and ironmen tested themselves and their bikes in this marathon event, with riders coming from as far away as Hamilton looking to take top honours in an event which has grown in size and profile since its inception a mere three years ago.

Drizzle fell to dampen an otherwise dry track as riders began to prepare for the start and rain continued to fall throughout the first half of the race with vision becoming a problem on the high, tussock-infested hill tops of the 20km course.

Honda-mounted father and son duo Blair/ Johnny Racz  (CRF450) set a blistering pace early on, holding a commanding lead over the rest of the field until mechanical failure ruled them out of the race.

This left local ironman Liam Taal  (KX450F) in the number one position and locked in a close battle with past winners Paul Mchaffie/Brendon Gow (YZ450F) up until Kawasaki-mounted Taal began to fade 10 laps in, handing the lead to the Yamaha duo.

Just as the battle with Taal had ended, a new threat came knocking at the Yamaha duo’s door in the form of Michael Vining/Andrew Gaddes (KTM 450XC-F), closely followed by Matt Vining/Phillip Goodwright (RMZ450) along with the Christchurch Suzuki-mounted duo of Justin Shaw/Andy Blanchard (RMZ450) who continued to battle throughout the following laps.

On lap 16, Mchaffie/Gow’s lead was finally relinquished to the hard charging Justin Shaw/Andy Blanchard pairing with the duo going on to win the race, showcasing some impressive motocross skills in the process.

Paul Mchaffie/Brendon Gow managed to hold the number two position while the north island duo of Michael Vining/Andrew Gaddes took the final podium spot for 2014.

Full results at: http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/985247

© Words by Steven Kelly, www.BikesportNZ.com

© Photos courtesy of Bakkshot Photography.

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