Riders chase trophies

OUT IN FRONT: Jack Murphy had to work hard for his two wins and a second placing in the Mini 50 water-cooled class in the beach racing at Makorori last month. It paid off, though, as he finished the series at the top of the points ladder. Picture by Liam Clayton

The East Coast Challenge beach racing meeting chews up the sand at Makorori tomorrow as riders go all out to win this prestigious event.

Last season, open-class racer Graham Wedlake (Kawasaki KX450) came second in the Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club Pit Stop (Gisborne) East Coast Challenge.Wedlake does not want to be the bridesmaid again.

Malcolm Rau (Honda CRF1000) came third last season and he really wants the top spot this year.

Road warrior Warren Martin (Yamaha R6) would like to end up on the podium.

The open class is also racing for the Mark Wilson Memorial Cup.

In the 0-to-500cc class, Graham Wedlake would like to make it two years in a row. Peter Krinkle (Kawasaki KX500) will be back to try to get a two-stroke on to the podium. Also joining the party will be long-time racer Benny Fogarty (KTM350) and Darrel Moleta (Husky TE310).

Burt Norman (Polaris 450) has been flying in the ATV class this season and would like the trophy on his mantelpiece, as would Graham Wedlake (Suzuki LTR450), who came second last year.

Expect the sand to fly in the 0-250cc class as the racers in this class go head to head. Bryce Norman (KTM250) was last year’s winner and you can bet he will be on the rev limiter to take it out again. Ben Logan (Honda CRF250) has had a good run this season and has set his sights high. Koron Delegat (Yamaha YZ250), Julian Walford (Kawasaki KXF250) and Scott Barkley (Husky TE250) also want one of those trophies.

In the classic/veteran motocross class, Wairoa visitors Graham Stanaway (1948 DMW 200) and Melissa Stanaway (1954 James 197) will be back. Ross Large will be putting his big-bore Suzuki TS400 on to the sand and hoping to break the Stanaways’ stranglehold on trophies.

Sophie Peach (KTM250) has not lost a race in the women’s class all season. Fritha Rau (Husky 125) will want to spoil Peach’s perfect record.

In the Junior A 125T/250F class, racer Tate Wilson (Kawasaki KXF250) will go all out to keep Branford Barwick (Honda CR125) away from getting gold.

Quinta McDiarmid (Suzuki RM85) will be racing for all he is worth in the Junior B class to keep his two-stroke ahead of Jack McNaught’s four-stroke Honda CRF150.

In the Mini 65 class, Brodie Reader (KTM65), Claire Ellmers (Apex MXRpro) and Jordan Fenwick (Kawasaki KX65) have been battling each other all season and it won’t be any different tomorrow.

With the big numbers in the trails class, expect some real racing. Hazel Harris (Honda CRF70), Abbey Fenwick (Suzuki JR70) and Lila Murphy (Honda CRF70) are hoping for big things. Contenders for top spot include Duncan Carmichael (Yamaha TT110) and twins Jade and Gemma Ellmers (Polaris Outlaw 90s).

It looks like you need a KTM50 to be a member of the Mini 50 water-cooled class. Jack Murphy, Travis Foss, Hunter Sadlier, Corrin Newman and Bailey Ireland all want to be top dog.

Ario Fenwick (Yamaha PW50) has had a great season in the Mini 50 air-cooled class and would like to keep it going, but Jake Grisdale (Honda CRF50), Ivy Fenwick (Honda CRF50) and Quinn Howard (Yamaha PW50) might have other plans.

Sign-on is at 11.30am. Racing starts at 12.30pm. New racers are welcome.