We had both winners and losers on the track at this year’s ninth annual Korito Technical Matrix in Taranaki on Saturday, but mostly it was the habitat of winners.
Indeed, every individual who entered and survived to see the finish deserves to be congratulated, as do the hardy souls – family members, friends, supporters and photographers – who ventured out onto the course to get a closer view of the action … even on foot, spectators found the terrain challenging.
The event attracted bike racing enthusiasts of every variety, mostly cross-country and enduro exponents, a few motocross and trials heroes too, and certainly the audience enjoyed watching the action unfold at the Korito Technical Matrix (K.T.M.) event near Egmont Village.
Lower Hutt’s Jake Whitaker, in sublime form on the tricky Matrix course near Egmont Village on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
“Historically, the moto trials guys and the dirt bike codes do their own thing, but, when I went to the international Red Bull Romaniacs (extreme enduro event in Romania), you could see that the trials guys are able to find traction where nobody else could,” said event organiser Dougy Herbert.
“So this event is a cross-pollination of the bike codes, where they can all learn from one another. Everyone will have learned something here today.”
For the record, Bulls rider Connor Newton eventually won the premier Gold Grade overall, the 18-year-old apprentice builder finishing just over 13 minutes ahead of his nearest challenger, fellow trials bike exponent Cameron Judd, a 19-year-old shepherd from Judgeford, near Wellington.
“This was my third year racing this event and this was obviously my best result,” said Newton afterwards. “Last year I was on an old bike and that didn’t go too well. I just relaxed and enjoyed it this year and it worked out for me.”
Judd confirmed he “had a couple of mishaps this year” and so didn’t quite manage the result he craved. “I was exhausted going up the ‘Lorraine’s Lane’ section of the track and that just killed me in the end.”
New Plymouth’s Tony Parker finished third overall, with Lower Hutt’s record eight-time former New Zealand moto trials champion Jake Whitaker (on an enduro bike at the weekend) fourth and New Plymouth’s Abe ‘Bolt’ Herbert and Taupo’s Wil Yeoman rounding out the top six in the Gold Grade.
Paeroa’s Ashton Whyte won the Silver Grade ahead of Gisborne’s Angus Thomas and Te Kauwhata’s Samuel Singer, while Taupo’s Axel Lowe won the Bronze Grade ahead of Whangaparoa’s Nathan Refoy and New Plymouth’s Jesse Smith.
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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Paeroa’s Ashton Whyte, on his way to winning the Silver Grade on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
One of the “Bridge Trolls” offers up a sugary sweet to New Plymouth’s Luca Gopperth as he heads back into the tricky creek bed zone on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
New Plymouth’s Tony Parker gets a little helping hand on “Grant’s Staircase” on Saturday, on his way to finishing third overall in the Gold Grade. It was a remarkable performance for the 51-year-old, on his way back from injury and in serious doubt early in the week that he’d even compete. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Event organiser Dougy Herbert (left) and Clerk Of The Course Simon Houghton lay down the terms as they run a slick riders’ briefing early on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
New Plymouth’s Phil Hood tackles yet another river crossing as he battles his way along the Korito Technical Matrix course on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Cameron Judd, from Judgeford, near Wellington, zips down a steep embankment on his way to finishing runner-up in the Gold Grade on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com