Engines give up the ghost at Makorori

BEACH SPRINT: Junior A class winner Troy Andrews (left) on his Yamaha YZ125 and Fritha Rau on a Kawasaki KX85 negotiate a turn in Round 2 of Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club’s beach racing series at Makorori Beach last weekend. Pictures by Liam Clayton

The weather was great and the action even better at Round 2 of the Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club beach racing series at Makorori Beach last Saturday. The racing was fierce, riders pushing it so hard that three engines destroyed themselves that day.

In the Senior 0-open division, Graham Wedlake (Honda CRF450) pushed more speed out of his machine but it still wasn’t enough to catch Daniel Fogarty (Yamaha YZF450). Fogarty was flying, and took three wins from three starts.

Peter Krinkle (Honda CR500) was looking good for a third placing when his rear wheel bearing collapsed, smashing the rear hub as it went. Ben Delgot (Yamaha YZF450) was only too happy to take his place.

Results — Race 1: Fogarty, Wedlake, Delgot. Race 2: Fogarty, Wedlake, Delgot. Race 3: Fogarty, Wedlake, Delgot.

In the 0-500cc class, Wedlake (Honda CRF450) put in an awesome performance and managed three wins despite Nick Wilkie (Honda CR500) trying his utmost to get his two-stroke on pole. It was good to see Vance Barwick (Suzuki RMZ450) and Shaun Mitchell (Honda CRF450) back on the sand.

Results — Race 1: Wedlake, Wilkie, Barwick. Race 2: Wedlake, Wilkie, Barwick. Race 3: Wedlake, Wilkie, Barwick.

The 0-250 class had some great numbers and hard racing. Sam Spencer (Honda CR250) was back out in front where he likes to be, but by the end of the day something had gone boom inside his engine.

Ashley Andrews (Kawasaki KX250) and Murray Swann (Kawasaki KXF250) were having a great duel in Race 1 until Swann’s engine also let go.

Results — Race 1: Andrews, Bryce Norman (Suzuki RM250), Johnathon Wilkie (Kawasaki KX250). Race 2: Andrews, Norman, Wilkie. Race 3: Andrews, Norman, Wilkie.

In the ATV (quads) class, it looked like Ian Newman (Suzuki 750-powered Honda) had some tough competition when Mike Ramsey turned up on his 1100cc Suzuki-powered super quad but unfortunately his engine broke a piston in Race 1. Graham Wedlake and Alana Andrews, both on Suzuki LTR450s, again battled it out all day, as did Bryce Norman (Polaris 500) and Vance Barwick (Honda TRX550).

Results — Race 1: Newman, Wedlake, Andrews. Race 2: Newman, Wedlake, Andrews. Race 3: Newman, Wedlake, Andrews.

The women’s class was again filled with top racing. Alana Andrews (Suzuki LTR450) was unstoppable and had three wins. Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine and Fritha Rau, both on Kawasaki KX85s, had a real battle for second.

It was good to see the Mitchell sisters Kenzie (Honda CRF150) and Taylah (KTM125) back for some fun.

Results — Race 1: Andrews, Phillips-Irvine, Rau. Race 2: Andrews, Phillips-Irvine, Rau. Race 3: Andrews, Phillips-Irvine, Rau.

The Junior A (125/250F) class was again a battle between Troy Andrews (Yamaha YZ125) and Ben Logan (Honda CR125). Newbie Jayden Hart (Kawasaki KDX200) was on the sand for the first time and had a fun-filled day.

Results — Race 1: Andrews, Logan, Hart. Race 2: Andrews, Logan, Hart. Race 3: Andrews, Logan, Hart.

In the Junior B (85/150F) class, the little machines were screaming. Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine (Kawasaki KX85) had three wins. Fritha Rau (Kawasaki KX85), Riley Stanaway (Honda CRF150) and Jack Leef (Kawasaki KX85) gave it their all.

Results — Race 1: Phillips-Irvine, Rau, Leef. Race 2: Phillips-Irvine, Rau, Stanaway. Race 3: Phillips-Irvine, Leef, Rau.

In the Mini 65 class, Emily Swann (Kawasaki KX65) from Wairoa and Luka Fogarty (KTM65) were going all out for the top spot.

Results — Race 1: Fogarty, Swann. Race 2: Fogarty, Swann. Race 3: Fogarty, Swann.

In the Mini 50 class, Lachlan Phillips-Crane (KTM50) won all three races. Corbin Spencer (Honda CRF50) and Jonah Reynolds (Suzuki DRZ50) weren’t racing for points but both wore big smiles at the end of the day.

The next beach racing meeting will be held on Sunday, July 24.