Beach racers scrambling for points

FOUR-WHEEL SAND MACHINE: Jessica Wedlake will be in the thick of the action in the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) class in the beach racing at Makorori tomorrow. File picture by Liam Clayton

MOTORSPORT

Round 2 of the Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club beach racing series rips into action at Makorori tomorrow as riders push hard for race series points.

The senior open and 0-to-500cc class will have the sand flying. Road warrior Greg Hall (Kawasaki ZXR750) will hope his superior straight speed can make up for his road bike’s slower cornering.

Ben Fogarty has made a few improvements to his alloy-framed Kawasaki KX500 two-stroke.

Graham Wedlake (Kawasaki KXF450), who made a clean sweep in Round 1, will be pushing hard to repeat that performance.

The ATV class will be digging trenches as Jessica Wedlake (Suzuki LTR450) returns to the sand.

Burt Norman (Polaris Outlaw 450) had two wins in Round 1. He will want three wins this round.

Chris McPherson, whose Yamaha Raptor 750 has more torque than a politician, will be fast out of the corners.

Two-stoke supporter Rockie Ellmers (Polaris Scrambler 400) will take on four-stroke diehard Liam Gill (Suzuki LTR400).

The 0-250cc class will be as big as ever. Jody Englebrecht (Yamaha YZF250) and Bryce Norman (KTM250) will go head to head again for the top position.

Wanting their share of the action will be Micah Wilson (Suzuki RMZ250) and Toby Frazer (Kawasaki KXF250).

Battling for the two-strokes will be Ben Logan (Kawasaki KX250) and Mike Leahy (Yamaha YZ250).

Classic class racers Melissa Stanaway (1954 James 197) and Graham Stanaway (1948 DMW 200) will want to beat rice-burners Stu Heaps (Honda XR125) and Mark Cameron (Honda XR600).

Women’s class racers Fritha Rau (Husqvarna TC125) and Sophie Peach (KTM250) will be joined by Kat Peach (KTM125).

The Junior A (125/250f) class will see the classic two-stroke versus four-stroke arch-rivals Saxon Sowerby (KTM125) and Tate Williams (Kawasaki KXF250) battle it out.

In the Junior B (85) class, Quinta McDiarmid (Suzuki RM85) had three wins last meeting but Henry Watson (Kawasaki KX85) and Ben Candy (Honda CRF230) will both tear it up to spoil McDiarmid’s party.

Mini 65 racers always put on a good show. Claire Ellmers (Apex Mxr), Corban Spencer (KTM65), Jordan Fenwick (Kawasaki KX65) and Brodie Reader (KTM65) had a great battle in every race last meeting and this meeting will be no different.

In the Trails class, newbie Hazell Harris (Honda CRF70) will hit the sand to take on twins Gemma and Jade Ellmers, both on Polaris Outlaw 90s.

Tony Laing (KTM110) will push for three more wins but will have to beat racers like Lochie Davidson, Lila Murphy (Honda CRF70) and Troy Engelbrecht (Honda CRF70).

In the Mini 50 water-cooled racers, Hunter Saddlier, Jack Murphy and Travis Foss are all on very fast KTM50s and will provide some great action.

Mini 50 air-cooled speedster four-year-old Ario Fenwick (Yamaha PW50) had three seconds last meeting and wants a first this time. But he will have to hold off Charlie Thompson (Honda CRF50) and Pippa Holden (Kawasaki ATV50).

Sign-in is from 9am for the beach racing at Makorori, about eight kilometres north of Gisborne on the Pacific Coast Highway (State Highway 35). Racing starts at 10am.

New riders are welcome.