IN A HEALTHY STATE | Bikesportnz

The sport of cross-country motorcycle racing is in an extremely healthy state.

This was highlighted by the sheer pace and spectacular nature of racing that has been seen in the junior grades throughout the national series that wrapped up with the fourth and final round near Pahiatua on Sunday.

In the end it was a KTM 1-2 double-punch in the junior grade with Kotemaori’s Reece Lister and Waimauku’s Jake Wightman claiming the top two junior spots for the series overall, while Nelson Yamaha rider Jackson Walker, Huntly KTM rider Andrew Barr and Marton Honda rider Josh Pilet rounded out the top five.

Lister had that title in the bag even before Sunday’s final round, after winning all three of the earlier rounds, although he was naturally disappointed to crash during the pre-race “look lap” on Sunday morning and was unable to compete in this final race of the series.

“I was gutted and disappointed not to be able to race on Sunday. I really wanted to make it four wins out of four this year,” said the 14-year-old Lister.

“I’m looking at stepping up to the senior grades next season, even though I’d still be eligible for the juniors. I think the tougher competition would be good for me. I want to continue to move my racing career forward.”

With Lister sidelined on Sunday, top honours for the day were always in doubt and racing at the front was extremely fierce, the lead changing several times during the 90-minute race.

Wightman recovered from an average start and emerged as leader at the end of lap one, until he was overtaken by flying Eketahuna rider Chris Dickson (Suzuki), who pulled a lead of more than a minute and looked to be racing away to victory.

However, a long pit stop cost him a lot of time gave the lead back to Wightman. When Wightman failed to conquer a hill shortly afterwards, he handed the lead over to Walker, until a determined Wightman fought back to eventually take the win.

“A second placing would have been good enough for me to earn second overall in the series, but I wanted the win all the same,” said Wightman.

“I got him (Walker) back on the 2nd to last lap. Jackson (Walker) rode well though and got a wheel up on me in the last lap, but he crashed.”

Wightman eventually won the race by 12 seconds from Walker, with Dickson the third rider to pass the chequered flag.

Although Wightman was probably already assured of claiming the No.2 ranking for the series, with a solid points lead over Walker at the start of the day, his win on Sunday certainly cemented that in place.

Wightman’s younger brother, Nick, took his KTM85 to win the two-stroke under-85cc class title.

The Wightman brothers are both supported by KTM New Zealand and Kiwi Rider magazine.

Meanwhile, Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley (Yamaha) won the senior race on Sunday to also claim the senior title overall, finishing the series ahead of Mokau’s Adrian Smith (Yamaha), Hamilton’s Andrew Charleston (Honda), Rotorua’s Scott Birch (Honda) and Maruia’s Ethan Bruce (KTM).

The best-performed females in the series were Rotorua’s Jane Roberts (KTM, top in the seniors) and Hastings rider Ellie Tilson (KTM, top junior).

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