It was probably bound to happen sooner or later, but Bay of Plenty rising star Callum Dudson finally achieved his career breakthrough moment when he dominated racing at round two of the Forestland Cross-country Series near Atiamuri on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Honda rider from Rotorua has been “knocking on the door” of greatness for several seasons now, but on Sunday Dudson excelled when he produced a courageous come-from-behind ride to win the two-hour expert class race and storm into the lead in this immensely popular series.
He “screwed up” the start in the premier race at midday on Sunday, finding himself stuck mid-pack, in about 20th position or worse, and battling to find breathing room as the swarm of bikes entered the forest at Ohakuri for the first time.
“I thought, damn I’ve just made this very difficult for myself,” said Dudson, a massive understatement from the Rotorua builder when considering that one of his main title rivals, Wainuiomata’s multi-time national champion Jake Whitaker, had clear air in front of him as he led the pack shortly after the shotgun blast had signalled the start for the more than 130 senior riders.
But Dudson wasted no time in carving his way through the fast-moving traffic and, by midway through the first of what would eventually be a five-lap race for the Honda man, he had snatched the lead from Whitaker and had also opened up a sizeable gap.
“For that first lap I went crazy to get in front before the riders got too spread out,” said Dudson. “I passed a lot of riders.”
Dudson was eventually the only individual to complete five laps in the allotted two-hour race duration after he arrived in the timing zone with a huge lead at the end of his fourth lap, but with time still left on the official race clock.
Wainuiomata’s Jake Whitaker (KTM No.166) grabs the holeshot at the start of the senior race at Ohakuri on Sunday. Close behind him is Takanini’s James Sutton (Kawasaki No.64), who remarkably shot through to this frontrunning position from a second-row starting spot. Whitaker eventually lost the lead to Rotorua’s Callum Dudson and, despite Whitaker’s bike suffering a tyre puncture during the race, he still managed to finish second on Sunday. It’s now Dudson first and Whitaker second in the series standings, while New Plymouth’s Sam Parker is sitting third overall with just one round to go. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
He was therefore waved on and sent out for a fifth lap, totally unaware that Whitaker and the rest of the chasing bunch were going to be stopped, these riders having arrived at the timing zone at the end of their fourth lap with the two hours now elapsed.
“I didn’t know whether I still needed to push hard on that last lap, but figured I had a solid lead and so just treated it as a casual ride at that stage anyway,” Dudson explained.
The signs had been there for Dudson (Honda CRF450RX) to produce the goods on Sunday.
The first round of the Forestland Cross country series the previous month had been a massive challenge – after two weeks of fine weather, the track could not have been better, right up until 9.45am on race day, when it started raining heavily and then it all turned to custard.
Dudson had also risen to the challenge on that occasion, battling with Auckland’s Ryan Hayward in the sloppy conditions for the senior race lead, before eventually settling for overall runner-up on the day.
With Hayward currently racing overseas, it did ease some of the pressure on Dudson on Sunday, but he still had to beat an impressive crop of New Zealand’s elite cross-country riders.
In addition to Dudson and Whitaker, talented riders such as Whitianga’s Blake Wilkins, Eketahuna’s Luke Brown, Rotorua’s Daniel Bates, New Plymouth’s Sam Parker, Whangaparoa’s Jacob Refoy and Napier’s Luke Taylor, to name just a few, also showed incredible pace at Ohakuri on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Eketahuna’s Sheldon Brown, won the morning’s 90-minute junior race, crossing the finish line ahead of Cambridge’s Harrison Findlay, Havelock North’s Luke McBeth, Rotorua’s James Bates Ngaruawahia’s Bailey Babington.
Best of the mini grade riders was Hastings’ youngster Cooper Hill, with Jai Gibson and Pirongia’s Leo Gilbert completing the podium, while best of the novice women was Rotorua’s Jackie Leggett, with Auckland’s Amber Uhrle and Mangakino’s Grace Harcourt rounding out the podium.
The third and final round of the 2023 Forestland Cross-country Series is set for the same venue at Ohakuri on September 3.
The Forestland series caters for cross-country riders aged from as young as seven, through teenagers, adult men and women and to the upper age brackets too, with veteran riders in their 60s, or even older, all keen to join in.
The popularity of this domestic competition includes separate trails and several different grades incorporated into the day’s racing, catering for all levels of confidence and ability.
Dudson is supported by THS Moto, Blue Wing Honda, Flying W race suspension, Fly racing apparel, Gaerne boots, Leatt, Pirelli tyres, IRC tubes and Polisport plastics.
The Forestland Cross-country Series is supported by Forbes and Davies, Kiwi Rider magazine, Forest Trail Events, Satco Logging Equipment, O’Neal apparel, Ogio, Arai helmets, Metzeler tyres, Muc-Off, USWE Maxi Grip, Maxima Oils, Blur and Husqvarna motorcycles.
2023 Forestland Cross-country Series calendar:
Round 1, Ohakuri, between Taupo and Tokoroa, Sunday, June 18;
Round 2, Ohakuri, Sunday, July 16;
Round 3, Ohakuri, Sunday, September 3.
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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