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It really seemed like the weather had thrown a double six - cold fronts, black clouds, wind, lots of rain - and that the Hawkes Bay round of the 2000 Spectro MX series was going to be a total washout. However the few doubters who stayed away in the sure knowledge that they were avoiding a mub bath hadn\'t banked on the Central Hawkes Bay Club playing another of their \"Get Out Of Jail Free\" cards. They also missed out on one of the best motocrosses this season.
There was a cold wind that gusted a bit in the morning but by midday the blue sky was starting to break through. The track itself was in fantastic condition and, as the wind dropped, the racing got closer.
Going into the third round just about every class was locked in a two or three way battle for first place. In the 8-11 85cc class Mason Wilkie (RM80) had a one point margin over Samuel Ebbett (KX80) and Kruse Robinson (KX80) before a win in the third race gave him a comfortable 8 point margin over Kruse Robinson, with Sam another 2 points back.
Bruce McFayden (YZ80) seemed to have the 12-16 class under control before an uncharacteristic 15th in the third race allowed Stephen Montgomery (CR80) and Daniel Cullen (KX80) to leapfrog him, with Stephen and Daniel taking 1st and 2nd respectively.
The Junior 125 was perhaps the mostly closed contested class all day. After 2 roundsBrooke Brausch (RM125) and Nicholas Saunders (YZ125), with a win and a third each, shared the lead, just one point ahead of Mark Pimm (CR125). Mark rode his CR125 to a win in the third race to take the victory (54 pts), just ahead of Nick (52 pts) and Brooke (50 pts)
Richard Kibby (YZ125) had a great day, taking all three C Grade races. Despite missing the first two rounds of this series, he is now tied for first with Jayden Carrick(CR125) on 161 pts. Craig Davis (KTM 125) is third in the series on 160 pts.
With two wins and a second, Daniel De Martin (Husq CR125) easily took the took the B Grade Under victory and now has a clear lead in the series, with Clark Coleman (YZ125) 58 points behind
In the B Grade Overs Carl van der Meer (KTM 520, 2-1-1) had the measure of Peter Lock (YZ400,1-3-3) and now leads the series with 182 pts, 15 pts clear of Brendon Kendall (YZ400).
Despite Ben Harding winning all three motos, the A Grade Unders provided probably the best entertainment of the day. Ben Townly (KX125) was giving his Kawasaki everything in an attempt to peg back the high-flying Harding, who now leads the series with a 51 pt buffer back to second placed Richard Adamson (CR125)
In the hotly contested A Grade Over class, Corrie Sargent (YZ426 1-2-1) took the days win from a hard charging Niki Urwin (RM250 2-1-3). With two rounds to go this class is still wide open. On 243 pts, Niki Urwin currently leads, but only by 11 pts to Corrie Sargent, with Palmerston Norths Paul Whibley (CR250) another 11 points back on 221.
A great track, good weather, awesomely close racing, and a superb effort from the Central Hawkes Bay club meant that everyone got more then their moneys worth. Prizegiving was all over by 4:35 and tired riders and spectators headed off into the setting sun (true - thats exactly what happened!) Don\'t miss the next round at Featherston on Sunday Sept 10. There is little doubt that this is one the best run series in New Zealand. Catch it while you can.
