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Results, Rnd 4, Sun 16th Sept
| A Grade | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Robson | Beta | 77 | Ixion |
| Nick Ball | Beta | DNF | Ixion |
| Intermediate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Sidebotham | Beta | 41 | Ixion | |
| Tony Smith | Sherco | 43 | MOMCC | |
| Andy Anderson | Beta | 64 | MOMCC | 6 cleans |
| Tony Ramshaw | Scorpa | 64 | MOMCC | 5 cleans |
| Phil Stephenson | Gas Gas | 65 | MOMCC | |
| Clubman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Mead | Beta | 40 | Ixion |
| Adrian Walcroft | Beta | 46 | MOMCC |
| Ricky Winkle | Ossa | 47 | Ixion |
| Paul Wheatley | Sherco | 63 | Ixion |
| Merv George | Gas Gas | 69 | MOMCC |
| Nick Tucker | Gas Gas | 78 | MOMCC |
| Andrew Pugh | Honda | 85 | MOMCC |
| Hazel Rushworth | Beta | 112 | CHBMCC |
| Social | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Ball | Beta | 2 | Ixion |
| Hannah Rushworth | Gas Gas | 61 | MOMCC |
| Jane Bray | Gas Gas | 79 | MOMCC |
| AJ Wheatley | Gas Gas | 118 | Ixion |
Event Report
Didn’t those four weeks since the last mototrial go quickly? It only seems like a couple of weeks since I was at the Linton quarry watching the guys make fools of themselves and here I am again at the other Infracon quarry we use watching them again.
Phil and Nick put the big effort in on Saturday setting out eight sections in and around the limestone quarry (now called break leg quarry) near Mangatainoka and 19 riders turned up on Sunday to test their skills. There was a good cross section of riders from A grade level down to junior and also three female riders, albeit from the same Rushworth family and covering three generations – sort of. So certainly a good turnout covering all fields, let’s hope it continues.
Even the threatening rain held off, well a few spits but nothing to warrant putting a rain jacket on for. But rain in the period leading up to the event did result in some sections not in the rocks being slippery and stealing marks – eh Nick. I’d blame your sponsor for supplying a bike with a worn rear tyre.
As is normal at break leg quarry most sections always have horrible, small, loose, fist size rocks that find their way under tyres at the most inappropriate times and cause many points to be lost as riders fight the bike back on line. Usually as a rider is lining up for the next big obstacle. As a result the rider’s scores are often higher than the severity of the sections would suggest. And Sunday was typical of this as I saw many being caught out by the small insignificant looking rocks.
The Social grade had the easy lines and four rode this grade including Jane Bray and her 9 year old daughter Hannah Rushworth. Jane on a 125 Gas Gas and Hannah on an 80 Gas Gas. They have ridden a few events now and they are improving with every ride and enjoying it too. Also riding this grade was 12 year old AJ Wheatly from Wellington. Although a bit timid still he is coming along well. The star of this grade was young Dillon Ball from down Wellington way. I’m not sure of his age, abought 8 I think. But on his wee Beta 80 he just blitzed the sections losing only two points all day. He’s always been full of confidence and has spent a lot of time around NZ/Aus Champ, Jake Whitaker, so has had a good teacher. Dillon’s dad is Jakes minder at all the big events.
Clubman was the largest grade on the day with Ixion rider Jamie Mead once again doing the winning. But Manawatu’s Adrian Walcroft wasn’t far behind in second place. It’s good to see Nick Tucker and Andrew Pugh getting their teeth into this grade now, they certainly aren’t at the sharp end yet vying for a win but are improving. Keep up the practice. Hazel Rushworth brought up the rear in this grade with a bit of a cricket score but really enjoyed herself. It would be something like six years since she last rode a trial on her trusty Beta and by all accounts hasn’t ridden seriously since competing in the ISDE (not on the Beta) when it was held here in NZ. Hopefully she has the riding bug again.
The Intermediate grade saw a close battle between Ixion’s Mark Sidebotham on his near new Beta 300 and our Tony Smith on his not so near new Sherco 290 fitted with a new rear tyre. Two points separated them at the competition end in Marks favour. Twenty odd points behind was a close battle for the minor placings with both Andy Anderson and Tony Ramshaw tying on 64 points and Phil Stephenson one behind on 65.
Only two Ixion riders lined up in the A grade. Both Warrick and myself are still on the mend and won’t be riding for some time yet. Carl Robson and his mate Nick Ball had some quite hard sections to tackle which eventually saw Nick retire after crashing off a rock and breaking the rear guard on his Beta. He was ok, just a bit gutted he’d broken his bike I think. Carl (never say die) Robson fought on and completed the day enjoying the challenge – I think.
The next MOMCC mototrial – 14th October. Pohangina Valley
- - Kevin Pinfold
