CLASH OF THE TITANS | Bikesportnz

It will be another clash of the titans at the third round of four in the popular Dirt Guide Cross-country Series this weekend.

Wellington Husqvarna rider Jake Whitaker will likely go up against firebrand Yamaha trio Paul Whibley, Adrian Smith and Adam Reeves on the forestry course at Ohakuri, off State Highway One, about halfway between Tokoroa and Taupo, on Sunday.

All four riders have enjoyed recent successes and, although they are on friendly terms off the track, it is always going to be fiery when the racing starts.

Seven-time former New Zealand moto trials champion Whitaker (pictured here) tackled the inaugural Moonshine Run Hard Enduro near Porirua just over a week ago and convincingly won that race ahead of fellow Kiwi international Whibley (Freedom Moto BikesportNZ.com YZ250)

But Whitaker didn’t have it go his way at the third round of the inaugural NZXC series in Woodhill Forest last weekend, managing only ninth place overall while Whibley, Smith and Reeves finished 1-2-3 in that order.

“I had a bit of a shocker at Woodhill actually,” said Whitaker.

I crashed soon after the start and that knocked the wind out of me. I’m good to go again this weekend though.”

The rivalry between Whitaker and Whibley will certainly resume at the Dirt Guide race this weekend, with multi-time national cross-country champions Smith and Reeves also sure to feature near the front.

However, it seems The 37-year-old Whibley has the measure of his rivals in the Dirt Guide series and he is tipped to wrap it all up this weekend.

Whibley has now made it back-to-back wins in the Dirt Guide series so far and, with points from only three of the four rounds to be counted as riders discard their worst result, he is now almost unbeatable in that series.

Whibley made it look easy in winning round one of the Dirt Guide series near Tokoroa in June, beating Howick’s Liam Draper (Husqvarna TC125) to the finish line, with Whitaker finishing third overall, and then Whibley led Whitaker across the finish line at round two of that series in early August, with Coatesville’s Sam Greenslade (Kawasaki KX250F) claiming third place overall.

There is no real pressure on Whibley this weekend, but there is no doubt he will still want to make it a hat-trick of Dirt Guide series wins at Ohakuri on Sunday.

Series organiser Sean Clarke said the original venue that had been planned for this round at Atiamuri became unavailable because of logging operations, but the Ohakuri course will still be very fresh to most riders after recent development work there.

It will also be worth watching this weekend for Te Awamutu’s Daniel White (Kawasaki KX125), Oparau’s James Scott (Husqvarna TC85), Hamilton’s Lachlan Bishop (Yamaha YZ125), Taupo’s Will Yeoman (Kawasaki KX85), Oparau’s Bree Scott (Kawasaki KX85) and Rotorua’s Daniel Bates (Suzuki RM85) to feature in the junior race set for earlier in the day.

The fourth and final round of the Dirt Guide series is set for a return to Tar Hill, just south of Tokoroa, on October 4.

The series is sponsored by Michelin, Bel Ray, Renthal, O’Neal, DRC, Zeta, Kiwi Rider magazine, Oakley, TCX boots and Yoshimura.

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