Motocross: Fourth finisher after string of injuries

Hawke's Bay's Hadleigh Griffiths had a top-10 finish in his class. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

LUCK of the right kind can be a little slow in coming. Just ask Hawke's Bay motocross rider Jye Deacon.

"I haven't had much luck with injuries. These are only my second or third junior nationals and last year I missed out because I broke my collarbone about a month out so it was good to record a top-four finish," Deacon said.

The Hastings Boys High School Year 12 student, who has been racing for nine years, was referring to his fourth placing in the 29-strong, 15-16 years, 125cc class at the Hastings-hosted, Altherm JCR, Yamaha-sponsored nationals which ended at the Ngaruroro Raceway yesterday.

Deacon, 16, and Napier Boys High School Year 11 student Jacob Beal, who was fourth in his 37-strong, 13-16 years, 85cc class, were the best of the 12 Bay riders in the 163-rider, three-day event.

"Fourth is my best placing at junior nationals and it's a good way to leave the class because next year I'm going up to national 125cc at senior level," said Deacon, who rode a KTM 125.

"I was only five points off the podium and I was in the top five all weekend. I'm looking forward to a well-deserved break now."

Beal, 15, had a mixed reaction to his fourth on his Yamaha YZ85.

"I really wanted a podium because I'm going up to the 125cc class next year," said Beal, who is coached by Hawke's Bay's Johnny Lindstrom.

Hawke's Bay's Olly Ayre, who was considered one of the favourites in Deacon's class, finished sixth on his YZ125 and the other Bay entrant in the class, Lachie Mills, was 20th on his Honda CR125 after blowing his gear box.

Hot favourite Wyatt Chase of Taupo, who also rode a YZ125, won every race in this class on the way to title honours and almost every race on his way to a second placing in the 27-strong, 14-16 years, 250F class.

The sole Hawke's Bay starter in this class, Hadleigh Griffiths of Napier, was 10th on his Honda CR250. Napier's George Kerr, who raced a Honda CRF150R, was 30th in Beal's class, which was won by Oparau's James Scott.

Experienced Hawke's Bay 11-12 years, 85cc rider Luka Fremantle was ninth in his 29-strong class on a KTM85 and Hawke's Bay's sole entrant in the 17-rider, 8-10 years, 85cc class, Alex Garland of Napier, was 12th on his KX85.

The Hawke's Bay pair of Vincent Andersson, on a KTM125, and Ollie Mackie, YZ125, were 11th and 15th respectively in the 16-rider, 12-14 years, 125cc class. Another Bay pair of Max Train and Oscar Morice were fifth and sixth respectively in an eight-strong, 8-11 years, 65cc support class on KTM65cc motorbikes.

Race director and Hawke's Bay Motorcycle Club president Greg Morice described the nationals as "an unbelievable event".

"All the club members who ran it received a lot of praise. There was some great racing and the rain which we were worried about didn't come to much."

The Ngaruroro Raceway was opened last year and Morice and his crew were thrilled with how it coped with its first nationals.