Day belongs to double-class Dan

HARD CHARGER: Sophie Peach (218) opens the throttle but was unable to catch Kenzie Mitchell in Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club’s beach racing national champs. Picture by Liam Clayton

A king tide that kept the water high and the track tight made for plenty of exciting racing at Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club beach nationals at Makorori.

Motocross bikes ruled the sand in the senior open class.

Try as they might, road warriors Daniel Hanley (BMW K100) and Rockie Ellmers (Yamaha R6) were no match for the MX racers.

Graham Wedlake (Kawasaki KXF450) and Murray Swan (Husky 450) had a great battle but the day belonged to Daniel Fogarty (Yamaha YZF450).

Fogarty won all three races, with Wedlake second and Swan third.

The Dillian Heaps Memorial Cup for the road biker with the most points went to Ellmers.

In the 0-500cc class, Fogarty showed he was up to the challenge of racing in two classes to be top rider overall.

It was good to see Benny Fogarty back on the sand. Racing a smaller KTM 350, he managed a respectable third with the help of some great cornering skills.

Competition was so tough that Nick Wilkie (Honda CR500) and Peter Krinkel (Kawasaki KX500) couldn’t get a two-stroke on to the podium.

Swan (Husky 450) was second and Benny Fogarty third.

The 0-250cc class was all action as Troy Andrew (Kawasaki KX250), Ben Logan (Kawasaki KX250) and Griffin Law (Kawasaki KXF25c) fought each throughout the day.

They were no match, though, for Dylan MacGregor (KTM SX250), who collected the chequered flag in all three races. Andrews was second overall and Logan third.

The ATV class had great numbers tearing up the sand.

A flying Ross Simpson (Kawasaki KXF450) reigned supreme, with no one close to catching him.

Ian Diack (Yamaha YFZ450) and Bryce Norman (Polaris MXR450) showed no fear as they went head to head for second, with Diack taking the honours.

Ian Newman (Honda TRX1000) was the super quad winner for the day.

It was great to hear the sound of British machinery in the classic class.

Chris Wright (Triumph Trophy T140) had a great start but a moving magneto ended his day.

Paul Arnott converted his BSA 650 bike to methanol and nothing could stop him as he won all three races.

Greg Pawson (Aerial 500) threw his single-banger around the track like a motocross bike but couldn’t catch Arnott.

Graham Stanaway (1957 Dot197) and Melissa Stanaway (1965 Sprite 250) did a good job of representing the British two-strokes.

Overall honours went to Arnott ahead of Pawson and Stanaway.

Arnott also won the Dave Crone Memorial Cup for the first British bike home in the second race.

In the women’s class, Kenzie Mitchell moved up to a Kawasaki KX250 machine and it paid off, as she held off chargers Sophie Peach (KTM 200) and Ellie Adcock (Kawasaki KX85).

Fritha Rau and Anna Highland, both on Husky 150 bikes, had some good races.

Mitchell was the overall winner from Peach and Adcock.

The club’s final beach event is the give-it-a-go fun day and 50cc scooter race this Sunday at Makorori. Sign-on is from 8am and riding starts at 9am.