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Photo - The hype and smoke builds up for the Two Man start:
Power Adventures: Press Release:
The Two Man X Country Series sponsored by Off Road Motorcycles has entered it’s fifth year to competition. To celebrate the fact, we encouraged many top level riders to team up with young talent to encourage and build the rider base in the upper North Island. This has proved successful in the Expert class where riders such as our own Luke Uhrle (CR125) at 13 years of age positioned himself in sixth position in the No 2 rider group. Combining with Karl Power, (RC250) the took sixth overall heading off the more fancied competition of the Nield brothers (Husky mounted) who kept the opposition fearful in every turn.
Hard man and multi X Country champ Adam Youren fronted on his RMZ450 and teamed up with another multi national champ Stephen Croad (RM250) but were overshadowed by Christopher Power and 15 year old Daniel Nieuwenhuyzen (both CR125 mounted) who held first position right through to the last change over and were eventually pipped by the Youren/Croad combo.
The most outstanding performance of the day had to go to Sam Greenslade (having the first ride on his new CR125 Honda) who joined Shayne McDonald and Christopher Power as the only riders to record sub 36 minute laps. At only 14 years of age, Sam spent the day trying to hold out Christopher and it wasn’t until the last lap that Christopher's experience and superior stamina came through to give he and Daniel second place. Sam teamed up with Gary Almond (RM125) and together were holding second outright until the more experienced Youren/Croad combo started forging ahead.
Veteran stalwart Craig Brown on a Husky found the going a little hot at times but with the lightning speed of Shane McDonald (RM250) they managed to hold out the hot duo of Rob Howe and Jason Davis (KTM mounted) who stormed through the field from 10th to eventually finish 5th overall and still in contention for the series.
The Father/Son teams are always hotly competed for. AJ Vogt and son Dillon (both on KTM’s) finished with a 12 minute buffer over the Marais combination of Hannu and Hannes. Wendy Robinson and Craige Mayo walked away with the mixt prize a whole half an hour ahead of Leresia and Paul Meharry who are still getting used to the Woodhill sand. Jack Brian and Rebekah Walker pushed hard for 3rd.
Kylie Door and Robyn Stace outgunned the Karen Henderson/Linda Hopper duo while Lauren Boyd and Wanna Monta took third.
The Malcolm Given/Phil Skinner combo on CRF250X Hondas cleaned out the Vets ahead of Brent Ford and Geoff Van den Borne. Darrel Muir teamed up with the wiley Mick Brannan to take third.
A bit of unintentional burgling in the Clubman class saw Charles Bullen and Trent Nichilson win by 22 minutes. Maybe they should consider a class change as 6th place in the Experts would have resulted.
Ladies Day:
Juniors are our future and the fact that we consider most 14 year olds skilled enough to run in the Senior races in X Country. Unlike Moto X, the riders are spread out more in X Country thus there is less coming together and the riding is much safer. This means our Juniors are much younger than most (apart from the progressive Tarawera 50 event) so we run a separate face for them. But we still find exceptions to the rule. Julie Greenslade is one of those exceptions. Julie is only 12 years old yet she embarrasses riders 4 times her age with ease. Julie Rode Robyn’s CR125 Honda and cleaned up the class by miles. In fact, she was the only junior to go under 16 minutes which is a feat in itself. Julie was partnered by sister Kate who herself is no slouch. Obviously they cleaned up the Junior 12 – 13 year age group.
Joel Almond held out Daniel Bond in the Junior Solo race ahead of Michael Wheeler. These boys were definitely embarrassed by the skill and speed Julie displayed showing that “girls can do anything” is alive and well at the Greenslades.
Greg Stephenson and Morgan Walker won the 9 to 11 class while Connor Jones and Logan Beuth too out the 6- 8 year class.
The series comprises of three rounds with your best two counting towards the series points. With the last round carrying double points, it is imperative that you ride the final. It also means that a poor showing at round one does not mean you are out of contention. Record a good score at round two and you are back in the hunt. In fact, for the last two years, the team that won the first two rounds did not with the overall.
The second round is on Sunday 5th June in Woodhill forest. Ring 09 401498 for details or Email Greg:
