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Photo - Sean Clarke, getting faster with age:
TOKOROA Suzuki rider, Sean Clarke, has added another win to his long career. His latest success came when he took the overall win in the Auckland Motorcycles and Power Sports Grand National Cross Country series on Sunday.
“This bike,” says Clarke, pointing to his “Alpinestars Suzuki” RM250, “makes winning almost too easy.” “I still cannot believe just how good this Suzuki is. It only took me about half an hour to prepare it for cross country racing, and since I first rode it, the only change I’ve made is to lace in an 18-inch rear rim in place of the standard 19-inch motocross rim, and firm up the front forks a bit using the adjusters on the forks.”
Clarke went into the final AMPS GNCC round at Tokoroa last Sunday firm favourite to clinch the series after winning every round he had contested up to then. From the pine tree covered sandhills of Auckland’s Woodhill Forest through the variable forest and farmland of Waimiha to Maramarua’s fast, open trail, Clarke has simply been in a class of his own on his “Alpinestars Suzuki” RM250 Suzuki For the final, he only had to drive a few kilometres from his home to what the AMPS GNCC series organisers described as one of their best venues: great forest tracks and soft loamy soil, with the added twist of a short tar seal road section.
The AMPS GNCC Series was decided over the best four of five rounds, so when Clarke elected to miss round two at Matata in order to help his local school with a fund-raising trail-ride, Hamilton’s Karl Power ran away with the event on his Honda CR250. But since then, the No Fear Elite class in the GNCC series has been all Clarke and his Suzuki RM250.
Aucklander Chris Power was the early leader at the Tokoroa final on his CRF450 Honda, with cousin Karl Power close behind, while Clarke sat back waiting to make his move. Before the first 10 km was up, the Tokoroa forestry contractor was into second place and soon after, made his move on Chris Power.
For a while, the youthful Power stayed with the veteran Suzuki rider, but was unable to maintain the relentless pace of his older rival. In the end, Clarke had extended his lead to a staggering nine minutes and 23 seconds as Power fell off the front-running pace.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with these young jokers. They’re just not fit!” Clarke grinned.
RESULTS - AMPS GNCC Final points:
No Fear Elite overall:
1. Sean Clarke (Suzuki RM250) 200 points
2. Chris Power (Honda CRF450) 168
3. Karl Power (Honda CR250) 164
4. Steven Croad (Suzuki RM250) 158
5. Heath Howlett (Yamaha WR450) 145
