Taranaki is poised to host a slew of Kiwi dirt bike internationals this weekend with the start of the second annual Taranaki Cross-country Championships series set for steep farmland near Eltham.

Last year’s inaugural series winner was Urenui’s Robert Newton (Honda CRF450) but he is now overseas and won’t be here to defend his crown, leaving the way clear for any of a number of riders to snatch the glory, including a contingent of Kiwi internationals expected to make the trip to Taranaki for the first time.

The Taranaki Motorcycle Club’s Energy Honda Cross-country Series runs over three rounds, with round two set for Tarata on February 3 and the final round at Purangi, near Inglewood, to wrap it all up on March 16.

The March 16 event will double as round two of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships.

The earth-shredding Taranaki series kicks off at Glen Nui, Mangamingi, near Eltham, on Saturday and features a three-hour senior race, including separate classes for riders on under-300cc and over-300cc bikes, veteran riders and clubmen riders as well. All competitors will be lap-scored with electronic transponders.

The Taranaki region has long been regarded as a nursery ground for the country’s off-road motorcycling talent, from the entire King family of brothers, including New Plymouth’s 1996 500cc world motocross champion Shayne King, current world veterans’ champion and national MX2 champion Darryll King, Hawera’s former New Zealand and Australian motocross and supercross champion Daryl Hurley, former national 500cc motocross and super motard champion Mitch Rowe, of New Plymouth, and current national enduro and cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau.

Organisers hope this fledgling Taranaki series could become the breeding ground for the region’s next generation of superstars.

“This series will really test the riders,” said organiser and sponsor Craig Morrison, of New Plymouth.

“We expect to see the cream of New Zealand’s off-road riding talent arrive for the racing.

“We have had expressions of interest from such top Kiwi internationals as International Six Days Enduro gold medal winner Adrian Smith, from Mokau, Huntly’s Michael Vining, Taranaki’s Greg Ngeru, three-time former national cross-country champion Adam Reeves (pictured above), of Palmerston North, and even current American Grand National Cross-country Champion Paul Whibley, of Pahiatua, who is home in New Zealand for the summer months.”

Marton’s former national enduro and cross-country champion Cam Smith – winner of the recent Yamaha Taikorea 500 – is also likely to make the trip this weekend.

Each of the three rounds will also feature a social trail ride at the same venue the following day, allowing riders and their families to extend their stay and enjoy double the amount of off-road riding.

2013 TARANAKI CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES CALENDAR:

January 12, Glen Nui, Mangamingi, Eltham

February 3, Tarata, on Motukawa Road, east of Inglewood

March 16, Purangi, near Inglewood (this round doubles as round two of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships).

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