Elwin has eyes on reclaiming crown

TITLE HUNTER: Taihape's Sarah Elwin, sure to be a title contender again this weekend at the Women's Motocross Championships. PHOTO/ANDY MCGECHAN, BIKESPORTNZ.COM 15102015WCSUPELWIN-0166-

Taihape export rider Sarah Elwin is determined to reclaim the national title at the 2015 Mach 1 Women's Motocross Championships on Opunake farmland this weekend.

The motocross title aspirations of the leading women's competitors will play out on the challenging grassland venue, owned by Ryan and Katrina Corbett in Wiremu Rd, and at the same time as the NZ Veterans championships.

Elwin, 20, won the New Zealand senior women's crown in 2013 and she is determined to reclaim that title at Opunake, having come second last year in Christchurch to Otago's Courtney Duncan.

Now based in Papatoetoe, although very much calling Taihape home, Elwin has been in top form - having retained her women's motocross class title at the 2015 New Zealand Motorcycle TT Championships near Kuratau in July.

The TT championships are on dirt but do not use hills and jumps like the regular motocross circuit she will race on tomorrow and Sunday.

The Eketahuna pair of Letitia and Courtney Alabaster have also been in hot form in recent events, while the NZ Veterans competitor entry list includes several elite riders and senior names, but the women's competition could see a rising star come through to claim the crown.

Other top performances are likely to come from Te Awamutu's Rachael Archer, Tauranga's Julie Managh and the Nelson sister trio of Tyla, Roma and Skye Edwards, the latter finishing third in the junior women's event last year.

The bike community will also welcome back to action Bay of Plenty rider Mary Wanhill, fit and ready to race again after fighting off cancer.

Taranaki 17-year-old Mikayla Rowe is not sure whether she will race at the weekend after recently suffering an injury. However, the 2013 national junior women's champion would certainly be a contender if she can take part.

Three races are scheduled for each class tomorrow with two in each class planned for Sunday, winding up with all-in feature races at the end of the day to determine the leading riders.

Racing starts at 10am both days and spectator entry is free.