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After winning the Australian Trials Championship Warren Laugesen must have been favourite to win the Oceania Title, however he miscalculated James Lawton\'s form and determination. James came out and won day one to show that the Championshp would be fully contested. In winning day one James also took out the title of New Zealand Expert Champion.
Day two saw some early rain at a different venue to the first day, however the rain stopped as the riders started. Warren was determined to reverse the first day result and managed to do so. At the end of the day Warren and James were equal on championship points to go into day three at a venue that had never before been used for trials.
Day three dawned with brilliant weather with the promise of more to come. The venue was high in the hills above the Horokiwi quarry. James managed to get an early lead and held this to the finish to win the day, and also the inaugual Oceania Trials Championship.
Also being contested was the Oceania Teams Championship. With James and Warren finishing one, two and the third New Zealand member Wayne Thompson fourth this was always in the grasp of New Zealand with Australia being runner up. The Australian team consisted mostly of younger riders who have the potential to deal to us in the future as at present we do not have the developing riders to match them.
James, Warren and Jason Baker (Picton) will next face the Australians at the Oceania Arena Trials Championship in Brisbane over the weekend Nov 6/7.
Results
Oceania Championship (Individual)
1 James Lawton Paraparaumu
2 Warren Laugesen Napier
3 Jason Baker Picton
4 Wayne Thompson New Plymouth
5 Craig Wassell Motueka
6 Trevor Campbell Australia
7 Brendan Hornsby Australia
8 Neil Price Australia
9 John Rees Australia
Oceania Championship (Teams)
1 New Zealand (James Lawton, Warren Laugesen, Wayne Thompson)
2Australia (Trevor Campbell, Brendan Hornsby, Neil Price)
Also contested over the weekend was the Junior and Presidents classes. These are also recognised as New Zealand Championships.
Expert B
1 Kevin Pinfold Ashhurst
2 Peter Boettcher Auckland
3 Brendan Eggars Motueka
4 David Smith New Plymouth
5 Mike Holmes Blenheim
Intermediate
1 Warwick Merriman Tauranga
2 Richard Bayliss Christchurch
3 Craig Mills Nelson
4 Benjamin Friend Nelson
5 Jeff March Hastings
Junior
1 Luke March Hastings
2 Scott Tither Paraparaumu
3 Rhys Bayliss Christchurch
4 James Wade Wellington
5 Murray Cottle Wellington
Clubman
1 Steve Wade Wellington
2 Grant Ruthven Dunedin
3 Trevor Nimmo Dunedin
4 Andrew McKelvey Ohakune
5 Warwick Landers New Plymouth
Presidents
1 John Lawton Paraparaumu
2 Kevin Tither Paraparaumu
3 Trevor Buckler
4 John Ravenscroft
5 Merv Bennett Whakatane
Press release courtesy of Motorcycling New Zealand
