Motorcycling New Zealand Inc

2 weeks ago

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND?!

Saturday 1st May:
* 2021 King of the North - Hosted by North Harbour Mini Motocross (Motocross)
* Winter Series (round 2) - Hosted by Westland

Sunday 2nd May:
* Have a Go Day #2 - Hosted by Canterbury (ATV)
* Zig Zag Road Gravel Sprint - Hosted by Canterbury
* 2021 AMCC Bucket Champs (round 2) - Hosted by Auckland (Miniature Road Race)
* Wheels Week TT - Hosted by Ashburton (Miniature Motocross TT)
* MX Club Champs (round 1) - Hosted by Manawatu-Orion (Motocross)
* Winter Series (round 1) - Hosted by South Waikato Motorcycle Club
* Have a go day - Hosted by Huntly (Motocross)
* Southland Cup (round 3) - Housted by Southland (Road Race)
* Club Trial - Hosted by Ixion Motorcycle Club ... Read MoreSee Less

Motorcycling New Zealand Inc

2 weeks ago

YEARBURY TAKES OVER SERIES LEAD IN MARLBOROUGH - 2021 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championship

CAPTION: Cambridge's Dylan Yearbury (Husqvarna), the new championship leader after solid weekend in Marlborough. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

There has been a change at the top of the 2021 New Zealand Enduro Championships after Cambridge's Dylan Yearbury struck back hard at the second round of five in the series in Marlborough at the weekend.

Helensville's Tommy Buxton won the opening round of the Yamaha-sponsored series near Tokoroa two weeks ago, but Yearbury and Oparau's James Scott both responded perfectly at the weekend's double-header round in Marlborough.

Yearbury was the best-performed rider on Saturday, finishing the day 20 seconds ahead of Buxton, with Wairoa's Tommy Watts third overall, returning to base a minute later.

Teenager Scott topped the timing sheets in all four of Sunday's "special tests", finishing the day 54 seconds overall ahead of Yearbury, with Buxton claiming third overall for the day.

This gave Yearbury the overall win for the weekend, with Scott finishing runner-up and Buxton third.

So, after two of five rounds, Yearbury is in the No.1 position for the championship overall, with Buxton now dropping back to second and Scott moving up from fourth to third overall.

There's a month-long break now before the competition resumes, when the riders head north again for round three of the series, another double-header, at Moonshine Valley, near the Kapiti Coast, halfway between Porirua and Upper Hutt, on June 5-6.

Other riders to impress in Marlborough at the weekend included Whanganui's Seth Reardon and Omihi's Ethan McBreen, Taupo's Wil Yeoman, Palmerston North's Paul Whibley and Nelson's Bailey Basalaj, to name a few, and the battle for outright honours remains tight.

All rounds are counted towards the championship overall, but riders are to count only four of their five results in terms of capturing an individual class win, ensuring it will also be tight to the finish in the chase for bike class honours.

The 2021 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships are supported by Mitas tyres Macaulay Metals, Best Build Construction, Silver-bullet and Kiwi Rider magazine.

2021 Yamaha NZ Enduro Champs calendar:

Round 1 – Saturday, April 11 – Tokoroa;

Round 2 – Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25 – Marlborough;

Round 3 – Saturday and Sunday June 5-6 – Moonshine, Kapi-Mana;

Round 4 – Saturday, June 12 – Masterton;

Round 5 – Sunday, June 13 – Martinborough.

Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.co.nz

Enduro NZ ... Read MoreSee Less

Motorcycling New Zealand Inc

3 weeks ago

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND?!

Saturday 24th April
* New Zealand Enduro Championship (round 2 - TWO DAY EVENT) - Hosted by Marlborough (Enduro)
* TSS Motorcycles Track Training Day - Hosted by Victoria (Road Race)

Sunday 25th April (ANZAC DAY)
* 2021 King of the Bowl (round 5) - Hosted by Canterbury (Motocross)
* TSS Motorcycles Summer Series (round 3) - Hosted by Victoria (Road Race)
* Bush Riders Trail Ride - Hosted by Bush (Trail Ride)
* Riverhead Trail Ride #5 - Hosted by Waitemata Motorcycle Club (Trail Ride)
* Teddington Flat Trial - Hosted by Pioneer (Trial)
* McKenzie's Club Trial - Hosted by Hawkes Bay Motorcycle Club (Trial)

Monday 26th April
* 2021 Taupo Winter Series (round 1) - Hosted by Taupo (Motocross)
* Marlborough Trail Ride - Hosted by Kapi-Mana (Trail Ride) ... Read MoreSee Less

Motorcycling New Zealand Inc

3 weeks ago

ENDURO SERIES TAKES THE BATTLE TO MARLBOROUGH - 2021 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championship

CAPTION: Taupo's Wil Yeoman (Yamaha), one of the riders to watch out for at round two of the 2021 New Zealand Enduro Championships this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

It's one down and four to go in the 2021 New Zealand Enduro Championships and it's not going to be getting any easier as the weeks progress.

That's the top tip for the nation's elite off-road dirt bike racers as they head off to round two of the series in rugged Marlborough terrain this weekend.

Round one of this year's Yamaha-sponsored competition was staged in damp forestry near Tokoroa two weeks ago and an early pecking order was set, but there's any number of equally-talented riders who could step up and take charge at round two, a two-day affair in the Marlborough region this coming Saturday and Sunday (April 24 and 25).

And, add to this the knowledge that riders are to count only four of their five results in terms of capturing an individual class win, it's certain the chase for class titles will be tight until the end. All rounds are counted towards the championship overall.

Helensville's Tom Buxton leads the way after winning round one at Tokoroa, although Cambridge's Dylan Yearbury, Palmerston North's former United States cross-country champion Paul Whibley, Oparau's James Scott and record eight-time former New Zealand trials champion Jake Whitaker, from Wainuiomata, were not too far behind him.

Others to impress at Tokoroa included Tokoroa's Jake Wightman, Raglan's Brandon Given and Taupo 15-year-old Wil Yeoman, to name a few, and it will no doubt be some of these individuals who again challenge for victory this weekend.

The venue for both days is Kemps property, 3938 state highway 1, 10ks south of Blenheim and it will be signposted from SH1.

Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Justin Stevenson said two different courses would be set out over the farmland for the back-to-back days of racing.

"Racing will start a little later, about midday, on Sunday in recognition of it being Anzac Day," said Stevenson.

"The terrain will be moderately challenging ... steep farmland with a few tricky bits that will surely test the riders. Double points will be awarded this weekend, so there are up to 50 points available to any rider that wins their class and for the overall placings."

He said the two clubs, the Kapi-Mana Motorcycle Club and the Marlborough Motorcycle-Club, have combined resources to make this event happen.

The 2021 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships are supported by Mitas tyres Macaulay Metals, Best Build Construction, Silver-bullet and Kiwi Rider magazine.

2021 Yamaha Enduro NZ Champs calendar:

Round 1 – Saturday, April 11 – Tokoroa;

Round 2 – Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25 – Marlborough;

Round 3 – Saturday and Sunday June 5-6 – Moonshine, Kapi-Mana;

Round 4 – Saturday, June 12 – Masterton;

Round 5 – Sunday, June 13 – Martinborough.

Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com ... Read MoreSee Less

Motorcycling New Zealand Inc

3 weeks ago

WATTS WINS BOTH SOUTH ISLAND ROUNDS, TAKES TITLE

CAPTION: Hawke's Bay's Tommy Watts (Yamaha), outright winner of the senior grade at this year's New Zealand Cross-country Championships. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

It was celebration time for Hawke's Bay's Tommy Watts at the weekend, with back-to-back wins in the South Island earning him his first national motorcycling cross-country title.

The 19-year-old Napier-based former Wairoa man had a share of the lead in the Yamaha-sponsored competition after the first two four rounds for the series, with just two days of high-speed motorcycle racing in the South Island, near Balclutha on Saturday and then near Mosgiel on Sunday, to wrap it all up.

The championship went down to the wire with Watts' main rival, Palmerston North's 2015 New Zealand Cross-country Champion Paul Whibley, who was level on points with Watts after the two earlier North Island rounds (near Marton and Dannevirke respectively), featuring as a constant threat.

But, with only three rounds to be counted and riders to discard their one worst score, it meant nothing was certain until the end of racing on Sunday.

When Watts won the day at Balclutha, finishing just seven seconds ahead of Whibley in the three-hour senior race, and then repeated the dose at Mosgiel the following day, this time beating Whibley to the chequered flag by 44 seconds, the mission was complete and Watts could enjoy celebrating his first national title win.

Manawatu's Whibley, a two-time former cross country champion in the United States, had to settle for overall runner-up, while Raglan's Brandon Given, Glen Murray's Sam "Charlie" Brown and Whanganui's Seth Reardon rounded out the top five seniors for 2021.

Meanwhile, Taupo's Wil Yeoman dominated the 90-minute junior grade races on both days at the weekend and the 15-year-old therefore easily wrapped up the junior crown for 2021.

Runner-up junior rider for the series was Eketahuna's Luke Brown, with Cambridge's Bailey Morgan, Rotorua's Daniel Bates and Katikati's Ryan Morrissey rounding out the top five.

Masterton's Max Williams was best of the 85cc bike riders this season, impressive in finishing eighth overall in the junior grade.

"It was quite tight and technical terrain on Saturday, but a faster, more free-flowing course on Sunday," said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth.

"There was forestry, bush, open farmland paddocks ... a bit of everything really. Everyone seemed to enjoy both tracks and days in the South Island.

"The double-header format seemed popular with the riders too and we may look at doing more of that next season."

The 2021 New Zealand Cross-country Championships series was supported by Yamaha NZ, O'Neal apparel, The Dirt Guide, Oakley goggles, Bel Ray oils and Michelin tyres.

2021 NZ Cross-Country Champs

Round One – Sunday, February 28 – Bush Riders MCC, Marton

Round Two – Sunday, March 14 – Central Hawke's Bay MCC, Dannevirke

Round Three – Saturday, April 17 – Gore & Districts MCC, Balclutha

Round Four – Sunday, April 18 – Mosgiel District MCC, Mosgiel

Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com ... Read MoreSee Less