The numbers are stacking up nicely for the second annual Yamaha Taikorea 500 this November as Kiwi international Paul Whibley again puts something back into the sport of off-road motorcycle racing.

The Manawatu event, set this year for November 23, is actually a series of four quick-fire races – with $500 up for grabs in a unique format that pays out most for consistency but also rewards individual race winners.

Two-time American Grand National Cross-country (GNCC) champion Whibley and his wife, Katherine, purchased the sand-based Taikorea Motorcycle Park near Himatangi in 2012 and, with a manager in place to look after things while Whibley was away racing in the United States, it continued to operate as a training facility for the Manawatu dirt bike community.

On November 23 it becomes a proper cross-country race venue, the Yamaha Taikorea 500 expected to attract the cream of New Zealand’s off-road racers, including three-time former national cross-country champion Adam Reeves, of Palmerston North, and Mokau’s current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith.

Last season’s open class enduro champion Chris Power, of Auckland, and Masterton motocross and cross-country ace Reuben Vermeers are also expected to front up at Taikorea.

Whibley said he was keen to put something back into the grass roots at home and would not be racing the Taikorea event himself.

“I will be too busy running the show, so I have no time to race on the day. I would love to, as it would be fun, but I’m really just trying to build something for the future and to give something back to the sport and to the riders.”

The event will feature four separate races, of varying duration, and offer $500 in combined prizemoney.

“The shorter race duration will cater for all skill levels but will still challenge the professional riders. It will also provide an opportunity for plenty of ‘bench racing’ (story-telling) between races.

“The prize money system is designed to spread the wealth around a little, with a bonus if one rider can dominate the day. This will hopefully provide some intense racing right to the final flag.”

The Yamaha Taikorea 500 will comprise two one-hour cross-country races on the ‘long track’, with a $100 prize to the winner of each race.

There will also be two 10-minute cross-country super finals on the ‘short track’, again offering $100 to the winner each time.

An extra $100 prize will be paid to any rider who manages to win all four races.

“Last year’s super finals provided some great spectator viewing and the racing action was intense right to the finish line,” said Whibley.

This year’s event will also be co-sanctioned with the Bush Riders XC series (BRXC) so riders will earn point towards the BRXC Championship as well.

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