The dirt will fly north of Christchurch this weekend as the region hosts the annual New Zealand ATV Motocross Championships.

Hosted by the Canterbury ATV Association, the Rhino Lining-sponsored New Zealand ATV (all terrain vehicle) Motocross Championships will be staged in Amberley, just north of Christchurch, this Labour Weekend, with a who’s who of off-road talent expected to flood into the region.

The weekend’s programme features races for minis, juniors, veterans, women and seniors and the depth of talent in all the separate divisions is phenomenal.

Among the leading riders to watch out for will be the 2014 Malcolm McVicar Memorial Champion, Canterbury’s Mike Graham, along with multiple former national ATV champion Ian Ffitch, of Amberley, and fellow top Canterbury riders Craig Cox, Greg Graham, Sam George, Bailey Allworthy, Taylor Graham and Kane McGrath, to name a few.

The North Islanders will be there in force too with Stratford brothers Camo and Scott Keegan, Rotorua’s Jason Jepson and Tauranga’s Mark Goldstoneall expected to put up a fierce fight.

Camo Keegan is probably the outright favourite to win the premier men’s grade this weekend after his dominant performance in winning the 750cc open expert class title last year, but anything can happen on race day, as perennial title contender Ffitch discovered when mechanical failure ruined his title bid last season.

“The course is rolling grassland with long jumps, short jumps, tight stuff, wide open sections and off-cambers. It features a bit of everything and should be a challenge to everyone,” said Canterbury ATV Association president Jason Holliday.

Class winners from last season included Warkworth’s Ben Smith, who won the 450cc production class ahead of New Plymouth’s Jack Burr; Kaiwaka’s Curtis Cullen, who won the 250cc junior production class ahead of Auckland’s Lucas Burborough; Auckland’s Craig Ridgley, who won the veterans’ class ahead of Napier’s Wade Taylor; Rotorua’s Emma Goldstone, who won the women’s class ahead of Napier’s Brittany Wealleans and Massey’s Kyle Chandler, who won the clubmans’ class ahead of Kaiwaka’s Hemi Curtis.

Any of these riders could be expected to again be among the podium candidates this weekend.

The number of women and girl competitors is up on previous years too and Canterbury riders Jessie Lyall and her elder sister Shain Lyall, along with Kalese Le Compte and Cara Mustchin, in particular, are extremely talented and are likely to feature near the front, even when they race against the men and boys.

The venue for the two days of racing is on Lawcocks Road, Amberley, and will be signposted from the Blue Dairy in Amberley.

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

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