Dibben's rocky road

ROCKY ROAD: Whanganui racer Richie Dibben (119) hunts down the leaders before getting the chop in the Asia Supermoto Championship in Newcastle, Australia at the weekend.

Whanganui racer Richard Dibben received the visitor's welcome when he took his place in the Asia Supermoto Championships in Newcastle, Australia last weekend.

The two-time New Zealand Suzuki Series Motard champion received a late call-up to race in the international field after current Suzuki Series motard titleholder Duncan Hart from Tauranga broke his collarbone.

Dibben had never raced in Australia before and nor had he competed on the sealed and unsealed track that made up the tight Newcastle circuit.

However, he came to grips with the street and carpark combination to qualify second fastest for the first of the two race series.

He finished third, but not without escaping a fair bit of argy bargy from the Australians.
"I was second most of the way and charging, but an Aussie rider behind me took me out of the race," Dibben said yesterday.

"Three laps in a row he tried to take me out and finally did. We both crashed and I got back up to finish third. He then protested and the Australian officials upheld it. Initially they were going to dock me one place and put me back to fourth. I wouldn't have minded that, but in the end they penalised me 10 seconds, which was a big penalty for such a small, tight track. It put me back to seventh."

That meant Dibben was forced to start Sunday's final race from seventh on the grid.
'In that race I was taken out again by another Aussie. I managed to get back on again and I was close up behind one of the British riders. Unfortunately, he was having engine problems and his bike cut out and I had nowhere to go but straight into him. My bike got a bit mangled and ended my race - a bit disappointing really," Dibben said.

He ended the series 14th overall, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
"It was a really tight circuit and difficult to pass. I have never ridden in races with such aggression though. I've ridden in England and Italy and never experienced anything near as aggressive. I did enjoy the overall experience though."

The Whanganui motorcycle mechanic will now focus on the Suzuki New Zealand Series aiming to reclaim his motard title later this year.