Motocross: Whitaker the man to beat

While the country's top expert-class trials rider Jake Whitaker looks to be the man to beat at this weekend's final round of the North Island Trials Championships being staged at Dartmoor one of the motorcycle sport's most capped veterans is looking to keep the Wellingtonian honest.

Hawke's Bay-born Warren Laugeson has been riding trials since he was 13 and has amassed a remarkable record of titles and successes, here and overseas.

Asked who was most likely to be snapping at Whitaker's tyre tracks at the end of the final two rounds to be played out off the Dartmoor Rd he was modest, but had to confess that yes, he'd be the likely next in line.

"But I'm 40 now and the fitness isn't what it used to be ... if I survive the weekend then yeah, I might be up there," he laughed.

Whitaker, who like Laugeson rides a specialist Beta machine, is a five-times New Zealand trials champion and is the current Australian champ as well.

"He's definitely the man to look for," Laugeson said.

"He is very good."

What had impressed him during the championship series was how pretty well all the six classes were "fiercely competitive".

"We'll have about 50 entrants here for the last round and it could be very close."

Riders will take part in Experts, A-Grade, Intermediate, Clubmans, Junior and Presidents Class - the latter being for the more "mature" in age riders.

One of the local Bay riders to watch for in that class will be Havelock North's Jonathan Buck, while his son Henry will be in action in the Junior class.

Another local to watch for will be Nick Simpson of Taradale in the Clubmans class.

Laugeson said the weekend would be a valuable final get-together for four of the six riders who will be heading for Europe in September to take part in the prestigious Trials des Nations being staged in France.

Sadly, Whitaker had been forced to pull out of the team for financial reasons, so Laugeson, as well as acting as team manager, will step up to take a major riding role.

Joining him will be New Plymouth's Matthew Foster, Rotorua's John Haynes and Blake Fox of Dunedin who is already in Europe.

The women's team is made up of Gabby Gundrey from Tauranga and Stephanie Downs from Christchurch.

It will be the first time in nearly nine years that New Zealand has sent a team to the event.

"And most of them will be riding in Hawke's Bay this weekend," Laugeson said.

The Dartmoor course, on the McKenzie property about 6km from Sacred Hill, features steep and rocky sections.

"It's challenging, and I'd put it at as one of the top 10 trials terrains in the country."

Competition begins at 10am on Saturday and Sunday and spectators are asked to make a gold coin donation to the Kiwi team fund.

The course will be signposted from Puketapu.