Racing expected to be hard

CORNERING: Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine (left) and Jack Reef take a corner during Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club’s East Coast Challenge races at Makorori Beach last weekend. Reef won the Junior B class on his Kawasaki KX85, with Phillips-Irvine second. Picture by Liam Clayton

Round 3 of Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club’s beach racing series hits Makorori Beach tomorrow.

Hard racing is expected from riders trying to move up the table in the final points round of the season.

“Road warrior” Dylan MacGregor (Yamaha R1) has a perfect record of six wins out of six in the senior open class this season and wants to carry on his winning streak.

Nick Wilkie (Honda CR500) and Graham Wedlake (Honda CRF450) are almost neck and neck on points for second place. Expect some hard racing from them. Just to add some spice into the mix, road warriors Shaun Mitchell (Honda CBR1000) and Jay Peach (Yamaha R6) will be there too.

It’s a three-way race in the senior 0-to-500cc class, with only a few points separating the top three racers. Malcolm Rau, Wedlake and Wilkie may all race Hondas but that will be where the camaraderie ends once they are on the sand.

Troy Andrews (Kawasaki KX250) leads the 0-250 class but Bryce Norman (Suzuki RM250) and Benn Logan (Kawasaki KX250) are only a few points behind so it could still be anyone’s series. With some good racing and a bit of luck, Mike Leahy (Yamaha YZF250) and Derick Watson (Kawasaki KX250) could scrape through to a podium position.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) open champ Ian Newman (Suzuki 750-powered Honda) has had a perfect season so far with six wins.

Cornering ace Alana Andrews (Suzuki LTR450) is in second place, just ahead of Wedlake (Suzuki LTR450) on points. Rob Manson will be back on his two-stroke Yamaha Banshee, hoping to hold off James Clark, who has added some go-fast parts to his Yamaha FYZ450.

In the women’s class, Alana Andrews has been working hard to stay ahead of Taylah Mitchell (KTM85), who is running in second place. Fritha Rau (Husky 125) might be running in third spot but Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine (Kawasaki KX85) is only a missed gear-change away from jumping into that position.

In the Classic class, cold-steel racer Warren Martin (Triumph 500) has a good lead on points on Graham Stanaway on his 1956 Put 200.

Murdoch Rau (Husky 125) has dominated the Junior A (125) class, and Simeon Mitchell (Honda CR85) has a strong grip on second place. Kenzie Mitchell (Honda CR85) and Fritha Rau (Husky 125) will be sparing no horses in their fight for third spot.

In the Junior B (85/125F) class, Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine (Kawasaki KX85) and Nathan Nyhoff will fight out top spot. Third place could be anyone’s — Jake Reef (Honda CR85), Luka Fogarty (KTM65), Tate Wilson and Riley Stanaway (Honda CFR150) all have a chance.

Lachlan Phillips-Crane (KTM65) leads the Mini 65 class, with Vincent MacGregor (KTM65) close behind. Luka Fogarty (KTM65) is third and Emily Swan (Kawasaki KX65), fourth.

The trails class has taken off this season. Twins Gemma and Jade Ellmers, both on Polaris Outlaw 90s, are leading on points. Claire Ellmers (Proshark 100) and Lachie Davidson (Yamaha YF90) will be fighting for third spot.

The Mini 50 air- and water-cooled racers will be back. Jake Grisdale (Honda CRF50) is way ahead on points. Corbin Spencer (KTM50) and Jonah Reynolds (Suzuki DRZ50) will be there having a great time.

Sign-on for Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club’s beach racing at Makorori Beach tomorrow is at 9.30am. Racing starts at 10.30am.