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Motorcycling New Zealand Media release
\"I\'ve never wanted a drink so much in my life,\" motocross champion Michael Cotter said at the end of the Rotorua cross-country motorcycle race today.
The Cambridge rider suffered acute dehydration near the end of the three-hour race, which cost him what would have been an astonishing outright victory in his first entry in the Suzuki national cross-country championships. The Rotorua event, held over rolling farm land, was the third round of the North Island section of the series.
\"The last lap I was dehydrated to the max,\" Cotter said. \"I was like in a daze, I was making mistakes everywhere. I was leading and I would have won it otherwise.\"
Cotter, who holds the New Zealand 250cc and Australian 400cc motocross championships, had been carrying a \"camel pack\" of water on his back but found it did not work. He nevertheless finished third overall and won the open four-stroke class on his Yamaha YZ400.
Cotter\'s problems allowed Mark Penny of Te Awamutu and Adam Youren of Napier to overtake him and finish first and second respectively. They both rode Suzuki RM250s and also took the top two places in the open two-stroke class.
Another motocross rider, Ben Harding of Napier, won the 200cc two-stroke class on his KTM125, while Mark Pollard of Te Awamutu took the 300cc four-stroke category on his Honda XR250.
Youren was beaten for the first time this season but still takes maximum points into the semi-final at Woodville in a fortnight\'s time, as riders count their best two results from the three island rounds.
Meanwhile Ryan Currie survived two crashes on the last lap to claim a narrow victory in the third South Island round at Mosgiel yesterday.
The Rangiora rider found himself in another close battle with season-long rival Mark Thompson of Christchurch -- who had beaten him by half a length in the previous round at Timaru -- before taking the victory in the three-hour race by just 10 seconds.
\"I fell off a couple of times on the last lap and damaged my leg a bit,\" Currie said. \"He got behind me in the tight forest section but I thought I could stay in front. I think he must have fallen off near the end.\"
Currie, 20, now has maximum points from the South Island section of the Suzuki national series with two outright victories on his Yamaha YZ250 - a fine performance for a young rider in a sport where experience is an important factor.
Steven \"Turtle\" Turner of Timaru, the outright winner of the second round, finished third on his Honda XR400, and won the open four-stroke class.
Results of third round of Suzuki National Cross-Country Motorcycle Championship.
North Island section, Rotorua -
Open two-strokes: Mark Penny (Te Awamutu) Suzuki RM250, 1; Adam Youren (Napier) Suzuki RM250, 2; Paul Whibley (Pahiatua) Honda CR250, 3.
Up to 200cc two-strokes: Ben Harding (Napier) KTM 125, 1; Chris Penny (Hamilton) Honda CR125, 2; Brad Graham (Palmerston North) KTM 200, 3.
Open four-strokes Michael Cotter (Cambridge) Yamaha WR400, 1; Cameron Negus (Rotorua) Yamaha YZF426, 2; Wayne Jennings (Whakatane) Yamaha WR400, 3.
Four-strokes up to 300cc: Mark Pollard (Te Awamutu) Honda XR250, 1; Dene Humphrey (Auckland) Suzuki DR250, 2; Scott Wilkin (Auckland) Kawasaki KLX300, 3.
South Island section, Mosgiel -
Open two-strokes: Ryan Currie (Rangiora) Yamaha YZ250, 1; Mark Thompson (Christchurch) Honda CR250, 2; Matthew Watson (Christchurch) Kawasaki KX250, 3.
Two-strokes up to 200cc: Dean Heney (Christchurch) KTM 200, 1; Damien Hammond (Christchurch) Honda CR125, 2; Nick McKenzie (Balclutha) Yamaha YZ125, 3.
Open four-strokes: ; Steven Turner (Timaru) Honda XR400, 1; Alan Scales (Ashley) Yamaha YZ400F, 2; Mark Mirfin (Nelson) Yamaha YZF426, 3.
Four-strokes up to 300cc: Matthew Squire (Timaru) Honda XR250, 1; Stu Davidson (Timaru) Kawasaki KLX300, 2; Grant Munro (Timaru) Honda XR250, 3.
For further information please contact Bernard Carpinter, 04-472-5514
