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The fire danger in Canterbury has forced the cancellation of a round of the New Zealand motorcycle cross-country championships.
The third South Island round of the Suzuki national series was to have been held in the Daylethorpe forest, near Sheffield, on April 8. Severe fire danger at that time forced a postponement till today, Anzac Day, but organiser Malcolm Currie said the Christchurch Off Road Motorcycle Club had finally been forced to cancel the three-hour race altogether.
The cancellation could affect the chances of some South Island riders. The national series begins with three southern rounds for South Island riders and three northern rounds for the North Islanders, with riders counting their best two results before going into the two all-in final meetings.
South Island riders who had one bad meeting this season now will not now have the chance to make up for that in their third round.
The championships now go to the first final in Marlborough this weekend, and the second final near Pahiatua on May 20. The Marlborough meeting is not affected by fire risk - the land to be used has already been burnt.
