    |
 |
|
|
|
CLARKE LEADS HIS OWN SERIES
MAY 19, 2008: You can't teach an old dogs new tricks.
But why would you want to, especially if the old tricks are still working fine?
Tokoroa enduro legend Sean Clarke won round two of the brand new three-round Dirt Guide Cross-country Series near his home town on Saturday and leapfrogged his way to the top of the standings.
Sponsored by Kiwi Rider magazine, the fledgling series is a creation of Clarke's, something he wanted to do "to give my son something to ride in".
Saturday's race sent riders across land near Tokoroa at a venue called "The Pylons", about one kilometre from State Highway 1 at Atiamuri, using some of the same terrain used for the big International Six Days Enduro in November 2006.
It probably should not have come as too much of a surprise that former national champion Clarke (Yamaha WR450) should win. He is a rider with vast international experience, including ISDE successes and, even at age 40, he still ranks among the country's elite.
Runner-up was Hamilton's Chris Power (Honda CRF450), remarkably finishing just two seconds behind Clarke after more than two hours' of handlebar-to-handlebar racing.
Round one of the series was won by Te Puke's Phil Singleton (Honda CRF250) and he again showed on Saturday that he was not to be trifled with when hounding Clarke and Power to the finish, coming home just 30 seconds behind Power.
"All three of us were fighting it out, right to the end," said Clarke. "I had a bad start and raced hard to catch up and then I ran out of fuel ... fortunately I was within sight of the pits, about 50 metres short, and pushed the bike in to refuel.
"Phil led the race with one lap to go but then I caught him up.
"It's not that I'm getting faster these days, just that the bikes are getting better," he laughed.
Clarke and Singleton now share the series points lead, Clarke getting the nod for the overall lead on a count-back, with Ohaupo's Chris Penny (Suzuki RM250) third in the standings. Penny finished runner-up at round one and he was fourth overall on Saturday, just over four minutes behind Singleton.
The junior race was won again by Rotorua's Mitchell Crawford (Kawasaki KX125), with Tauranga's Dion Sheely (Kawasaki KX250F) again finishing second, with Rotorua's Sam Sargison (Honda CRF250) third on Saturday.
Crawford, Sheely and Sargison are ranked 1-2-3 respectively in the series standings.
Rotorua's Daniel Noble (Kawasaki KX85) was best of the small bike riders, finishing sixth overall in the talent-packed field of 51 junior riders.
The series wraps up with round three at Tar Hill, near Tokoroa, on June 22.
