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MAY 13, 2008: Motorcycle riders are being spoiled for choice these days.
In almost any corner of the country you'll see floods of vans, utes and cars with trailers, carting dirt bikes away for another weekend of off-road fun, typically an enjoyable challenge.
And the words "enjoyable" and "challenge" can certainly be used in the same breath when discussing the merits of the brand new three-round Dirt Guide Cross-country Series.
Sponsored by Kiwi Rider magazine, the fledgling series marks round two near Tokoroa this Saturday at a venue called "The Pylons", about one kilometre from State Highway 1 at Atiamuri, up the Tirohanga Road.
It is the same terrain used for part of the big International Six Days Enduro in November 2006.
Round one winner was won by Phil Singleton (Honda CRF250) -- the Te Puke man showing remarkable fighting qualities to recover from crash at the start to battle through for the victory -- with Ohaupo's Chris Penny (Suzuki RM250 ) runner-up and series organiser Sean Clarke (Yamaha WR450) coming home third.
More than 120 riders showed up for round one of the series at nearby Tar Hill, including 33 junior riders for the morning race.
The junior race at round one was won by Rotorua's Mitchell Crawford, with Tauranga's Dion Sheely a very close second.
"I formed the series just to give junior and first-time riders a go at the sport of cross-country riding," said Clarke. "In fact, I just wanted an event where I could take my 12-year-old boy Jesse for a ride," he laughed.
The start time for the senior race has changed and it will kick off at 12 noon, instead of the advertised 1pm. The juniors will still start at the advertised time of 9.30am.
"The track this weekend has been bulldozed and is a lot loamier than the first round at Tar Hill. Also, the start area is a lot better and there will be a small grass track section for the spectators and pit crews," said the former national enduro champion.
