All eyes will be on four-time and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith when the second round of three in this season’s Dirt Guide Cross-Country Series kicks off at Ohakuri, south of Atiamuri, on Saturday.

There will be two very good reasons why everybody will be watching the man from Mokau: One reason is that his rivals will be looking to knock him off the top perch after he convincingly won the series opener, also near Tokoroa, four weeks ago.

The second reason is that this series is rapidly growing in popularity and, with separate trails and several different grades incorporated into the day’s racing, catering for all levels of confidence and ability, Saturday’s event is an ideal opportunity for the lesser or novice riders to learn from masters such as Smith.

The talent runs deep at the sharp end of the serious part of the competition, with Marton’s former national enduro and cross-country champion Cam Smith, Palmerston North’s three-time former national cross-country champion Adam Reeves and Wainuiomata’s seven-times national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker, to name just a few, among those worth watching and learning from over the course of the two-hour senior race.

It is expected that leading riders such as Aucklanders Liam Draper and Sam Greenslade and Morrinsville’s Simon Lansdaal will also be contenders to win the expert grade on Saturday.

In addition to the expert grade riders, the series caters also for mini and junior riders, aged from as young as seven, and intermediates, veterans and women too.

Riders such as Huntly’s Ryan Hoskins, Helensville’s Tom Buxton, Taupo’s Mark Haimes and Te Puke’s Daniel Marsh are expected to be among the leading intermediate grade riders, while Auckland’s Jake Wightman, Te Awamutu’s Daniel White, Hamilton’s Luke Taylor and Te Awamutu’s Rachel Archer are expected to lead the way in the junior grade.

Activity also continues the next day, with a trail ride planned for the same venue on Sunday.

The senior loop will be 17 kilometres long and the 35-kilometre trail ride on the Sunday is 80 percent different from the race track used on Saturday. The venue is signposted from State Highway 1.

As in previous years, no Motorcycling New Zealand licence is required to race in the Dirt Guide series.

The day on Saturday kicks off at 9.30am with the 7-11 years’ mini riders and the 12-16 years’ juniors.

The senior race starts at 12.30pm, with the Expert grade starting first and the Intermediate grade riders are set off on their separate race about 30 seconds later.

Series organiser Sean Clarke, from Tokoroa, said the Sunday trail rides were also proving to be very popular and were another great opportunity for novice riders to sharpen their skills.

The series’ third and final round takes the riders back to Ohakuri, on July 26, with the trail ride again to follow on the Sunday.

The series is sponsored by Michelin, Bey Ray, Renthal, O’Neal, Troy Lee Designs, DRC, Zeta, Kiwi Rider magazine, TCX boots, Yoshimura and Suomy helmets.

Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships 2014:

Round one: May 31-June 1, Tar Hill, south of Tokoroa

Round two: June 28-29, Ohakuri, south of Tokoroa

Round three: July 26-27, Ohakuri, south of Tokoroa

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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