Two versus four at Makorori

FEATHERS COULD FLY: Jay Peach could be the “cat among the pigeons” on his Yamaha R6 in Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club’s beach racing at Makorori tomorrow. Picture by Liam Clayton

It’s all on tomorrow as Round 2 of the Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club beach racing series rips into action at Makorori.

In the senior open class it will be a two-stroke-versus-four-stroke battle as Nick Wilkie (Honda CR500) takes on Graham Wedlake (Kawasaki KXF450), but the cat among the pigeons could be road warrior Jay Peach on his Yamaha R6.

Graham Wedlake (Kawasaki KXF450) will be fighting off a determined John White (Honda CRF450) and Murray Swan (KTM450) in the senior 0-500cc class.

In the 0-250 class, Troy Andrews (Yamaha YZ250) will push his two-stroke to the limit to get three more victories, but he knows that Ben Logan and Mike Leahy won’t let it be a walk in the park.

The ATV (quad) class had great numbers in Round 1 and this meeting won’t be any different. Newbie Ian Diack (Yamaha YFZ450) had a great first meeting and hopes to make it past Graham Wedlake (Suzuki LTR450) and Burt Norman (Polaris Outlaw). Ian Newman will be back on his super quad (Honda CBR1000) to liven things up.

The women’s 0-500/ATV class will again have Jessica Wedlake (Suzuki LTR450) and Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine (Suzuki RM125) fighting over first place. Wild card Fritha Rau (Husky 125) hopes to rain on their parade.

Classic/VMX racers Warren Martin (Triumph 500) and Graham Stanaway (1956 Put 200) will need to keep the throttles open as Greg Pawson (Kawasaki KX450) will make an appearance, as will Aucklander Bruce Aitken on his very fast 1972 Norton P11 750.

Murdoch Rau (Husky 125) was king of the sand in the last round of the Junior A (125) class, but he will have some competition from Gabrielle Phillips-Irvine (Suzuki Rm125) and Fritha Rau (Husky 125) moving into this division.

In the Junior B (85/125F) class, Riley Stanaway gripped the sand with three wins last meeting and is hoping to have three more.

Emily Swann (KTM65) took out the mini 65 class last round with three wins, but she will have some competition for top spot as Claire Ellmers (APEX 100) moves into this class.

The trails class has grown in numbers this year. Twins Gemma and Jade Ellmers, both on Polaris Outlaw 90s, will be taking on two-wheeled racer Lachie Davidson, whose goal is to get top spot.

The mini 50 air- and water-cooled racers will be back. Jake Grisdale (Honda CRF50) was the one to watch in the mini 50cc class last round, with three wins, but this weekend he will have Corrin Newman and Jack Murphy back out there.

Club members race in all weather conditions. Sign-on is at 11am; racing starts at midday on Makorori Beach. New riders are welcome.