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Photo - Mike Cotter @ Trentham:
Courtesy Andy McGechan:
Email Andy: He may just have a photo of you?
From:
KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN
Sunday September 26, dawned still and fine, a pleasant surprise for all riders at Round Three of the SsangYong New Zealand Motocross Championship, on the man-made track inside the horse race track at Trentham, just north of Wellington.
All riders were faced with a track of difference and the Kawasaki crew being no exception had concerns of how they would fare on a track that would prove to dish out speed above normal and brutal punishment to bikes and bodies.
125cc class:
Michael Phillips (Rotorua) was hoping to continue his success of the Timaru round on his Patterson O’Connor supported KX250-F, however it wasn’t to be his day.
After stalling on the line in Race One and then after a number of falls in Race Two, Phillips spent most of the day riding catch-up.
In Race Three, Phillips gated well and was running in the top four. As the race developed, a major battle evolved between Hurley, King and Burkhart and these riders were prepared to take huge risks. Phillips wishing to finish intact, came home 7th giving him 9th for the day and 8th overall in the points standing. He looks forward to the final round at Pukekohe.
Young Team Green Rider Jesse Wiki (Hamilton) was keen to prove to himself that he was tough enough to bang bars with the big boys on his Hamilton Motorcycle Centre supported KX250-F.
Unfortunately Wiki finished the day a little bashed up. Race one saw him fall heavily and get run over by another bike while running well inside the top 10. Race Two, he mistimed the stutter section and disaster struck again.
Returning to the pits, somewhat disillusioned with the day and very sore, his Team mates offered much encouragement, more ice, another bandage a pep talk and he was off to the start of race 3 with a vengeance.
He gated well and maintained 8th for several laps only to fade a little, his strength suffering from the earlier falls but with much sideline cheering was able to hold on and finish a credible 12th. A gutsy effort and he finally obtained some valuable points from a hard days work.
250cc class:
Michael Cotter (Cambridge based), came back from practice on his MR Motorcycle’s supported KX250-M, a little wary of how the track could dish out some curve balls.
In Race One Cotter gated mid pack and pushed through as the race progressed to 7th. In Race Two, with track conditions becoming a little sketchy, Cotter did not get the best of starts, and had to push hard to come through the pack, avoid the onslaught of rocks thrown up by fellow competitors to eventually finishing in 9th.
Disappointed with his earlier efforts Cotter lined up for Race Three determined to salvage the day with a good result. He gated well and came out sitting in 3rd. Then the pace really warmed up out front as Ham, King and Broxholme fought for line honors. Cotter not prepared to risk a DNF or an injury, as the track conditions deteriorated and the speeds climbed as a result of missing pegs and bunting tape, elected to ride safely, coming home in 7th, giving him 8th for the day and 6th overall, leading into the final round at Pukekohe.
Brad Norton (Christchurch) also had a mixed day, saying after practice on his Superior Motorcycles supported KX250-M, that the track was just not his cup of tea; Norton prefers the good old MX track on natural terrain that requires skill not excessive speed and risk taking.
However in spite of this and with some brilliant riding Norton charged in every race only to fall and have to battle back, demoralizing stuff for the South Islander, finishing 14th, 8th and 11th respectively. He now sits in 10th overall and really looks forward to Pukekohe.
Kyle Smith, spare parts man for Pukekohe dealer MR Motorcycles, maintained his consistent top 10 results on his KX250-M, but a fall in Race Three on the stutters dropped him to 12th for the day. Smith is looking forward to the final round at his home Pukekohe track and is aiming to finish the series inside the top Ten.
