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After heavy overnight rain, the sun came out in Kawerau today, for the 24th annual “Tarawera 100”, now sponsored by IRC Tyres, but left slippery and muddy conditions for the 239 starters.
With the moving of the start/finish back to the maize paddock in Lambert’s Road off Kawerau straight, the event distance was lengthened to 178 kms, with lap one being 46 kms.
This caught out some of the top riders, who while charging to an early lead, in the challenging conditions, consumed more fuel than expected and ran out on the first lap. With Ben Harding, Paul Wibley and Adam Youren, all out with fuel problems and last year’s winner Tokoroa’s Shaun Clark, out with an injured knee, the event was anyone’s.
After a grueling 4hrs 13 mins, one of the longest Tarawera 100s ever, Rotorua’s Cameron Negus on a Suzuki RM250 took the win, from Te Puke’s Michael Gibbons on a Kawasaki KX250, up from third last year and recently capped, New Zealand 4-Stroke Motocross Champion, New Plymouth’s Mitch Rowe can home third.
Provisional Results:
1) Cameron Negus, Rotorua, Suzuki RM 250
2) Michael Gibbons, Te Puke, Kawasaki KX 250
3) Mitch Rowe, New Plymouth, KTM 520
4) Chris Birch, Waimauku, Kawasaki KX 250
5) Steven Bird, Palmerston North, Yamaha WR 426 F
6) Chris Penny, Te Awamutu, Honda CR 500
7) Brad Graham, Palmerston North, Suzuki RM 250
8) Lance Sutton, Drury, Yamaha WR250
9) Barry Hogg, Te Puke, Honda CR 250
10) Joel Byrne, Whakatane, Kawasaki KX 125
For Motorcycling New Zealand www.motorcyclingnz.co.nz
