Motocross: HB schoolboy stakes claim on junior title

Kotemaori's Reece Lister (KTM), the new junior No1 on the New Zealand crosscountry motorcycle racing scene. Photo / Andy McGechan

Motorcycle crosscountry racing is in an extremely healthy state.

This was highlighted by the sheer pace and spectacular nature of racing that has been seen in the junior grades throughout the national series which wrapped up with the fourth and final round near Pahiatua on Sunday. In the end it was a KTM 1-2 double-punch in the junior grade with Hawke's Bay's Reece Lister and Waimauku's Jake Wightman claiming the top two junior spots for the series overall, while Nelson Yamaha rider Jackson Walker, Huntly KTM rider Andrew Barr and Marton Honda rider Josh Pilet rounded out the top five.

Kotemaori's Lister had that title in the bag before Sunday's final round, after winning all three of the earlier rounds, although he was naturally disappointed to crash during the pre-race "look lap"on Sunday morning and was unable to compete in this final race of the series.

Hawke's Bay's Ellie Tilson of Hastings, who also rode a KTM, was the top junior female in the series.

With Lister sidelined, top honours for the day were always in doubt and racing at the front was extremely fierce, the lead changing several times during the 90m race.

Wightman recovered from an average start and emerged as leader at the end of lap one, until he was overtaken by flying Eketahuna rider Chris Dickson, who pulled a lead of more than a minute and looked to be racing away to victory.

However, a long pit stop cost him a lot of time which gave the lead back to Wightman.

When Wightman failed to conquer a hill shortly afterwards, he handed the lead over to Walker, until a determined Wightman fought back to eventually take the win.

"A second placing would have been good enough for me to earn second overall in the series, but I wanted the win all the same," said Wightman.

Wightman eventually won the race by 12s from Walker, with Dickson the third rider to pass the chequered flag.

Although Wightman was already assured of claiming the No2 ranking for the series, with a solid points lead over Walker at the start of the day, his win on Sunday cemented this.

Wightman's younger brother, Nick, took his KTM85 to win the two-stroke under-85cc class title.

Pahiatua's Paul Whibley won the senior race on Sunday to also claim the senior title overall, finishing the series ahead of Mokau's Adrian Smith, Hamilton's Andrew Charleston, Rotorua's Scott Birch and Maruia's Ethan Bruce.

Another KTM rider, Rotorua's Jane Roberts, was the top senior female.