The usual suspects were at the head of the pack when rounds seven and eight of the North Island Moto Trials Championships wrapped up in storm-ravaged Taranaki at the weekend.
Seven-time former national champion Warren Laugesen emerged on top in the experts' grade on both days of competition - in Opunake on Saturday and Inglewood on Sunday - but he didn't have it all his own way, with Blenheim's Jason Baker, Taranaki's Matt Foster and Dunedin's Blake Fox hounding him all the way.
Rain on Saturday, followed by tornadoes that night and occasional showers throughout Sunday, made the going tough for all the motorcycle riders, with steep, moss-covered rocks becoming more treacherous than usual and swollen creek beds forcing organisers to reset some courses.
But Laugesen was more than a match for the conditions, and for his rivals, putting on a master class of bike balance and throttle control.
Baker, 36, a many-times South Island Moto Trials champion, has not ventured north for earlier rounds and therefore will not feature at the top when the series concludes, but he was certainly a man to watch in Taranaki at the weekend. A diver by trade, Baker seemed unbothered by the damp conditions.
Foster was unable to capitalise on any perceived home-turf advantage but solid rides did earn him a podium finish for the weekend. This was enough for Foster to ensure he maintained his stranglehold on the top spot for the series and he is now in a prime position to take the North Island crown for this year.
Young South Islander Fox, who only recently moved up to the experts' grade, proved himself worthy of the promotion.
The emphasis for this competition is on balance, bravery and throttle control. Speed is not essential, with the prime aim instead being to conquer extreme terrain without touching feet on the ground or falling off. Points are lost for these "faults" and a rider with the lowest score wins.
The battle for A-grade honours welcomed a new player to the scene with young Rotorua rider John Haynes moving up from the intermediate grade to challenge established rider Phillip Shilton, of Tauranga, for the top spot.
Shilton won on Saturday but it was class-newcomer Haynes who took top honours on day two with Lower Hutt's Carl Robson runner-up on Sunday.
In the intermediate grade, fortunes changed with the days. Auckland's Peter Boettcher finished on top on Saturday but had a difficult time on day two, managing only seventh overall.
Opunake's Andrew Clement was placed fifth overall on Saturday but improved to win the intermediate class on day two.
Rounds nine and 10 will wind up the series in Hawke's Bay from August 20-21.
Warren Laugesen was more than a match for the conditions at the North Island Moto Trials Championships. Photo / Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
