Elwin recovers from falls to grab Waikato win

COMEBACK: Sarah Elwin showed sensational form to fight her way back through the field at the Waikato Championships at the weekend. PHOTO/ANDY MCGECHAN, WWW.BIKESPORTNZ.COM

Taihape's Sarah Elwin had to twice climb back from spills yet still finished head of the pack in the women's class at the Waikato Motocross Championships near Te Kuiti at the weekend.

The 20-year-old Elwin took her Yamaha YZ250F into the lead early in each of the three races, but uncharacteristic mistakes in the first two left her sampling the soil and she was twice forced to battle through the entire field to take the wins.

She then made it three wins with a perfect start-to-finish victory in the last women's race of the day, leading Te Awamutu's Rachael Archer and Cambridge's Amber Harris to the top of the podium.

"It was a bit of a rough start to the day and I certainly made things difficult for myself," Elwin said. "I just needed to relax and concentrate on riding my own races. The heat was intense and I was a long way behind [after dropping the bike] and just had to keep telling myself not to give up, just to keep going.

"It was good to see Rachel [Archer] and Amber [Harris] riding their 85cc bikes so well and giving everyone a run for their money."

Tauranga's Oceanna Hardwidge finished fourth overall at Te Kuiti, with Te Awamutu's Chloe Steel rounding out the top five.

Struggling with her fitness, former national champion Elwin had been disappointed that she finished only third overall at the women's nationals near Opunake last month.

"I've not been 100 per cent lately and I will now rest up to let my old shoulder and back injuries heal properly before my next big event, the annual Whakatane Summercross just after Christmas."

Elwin is supported by Motorcycle Central, MX Antix, Ndub Designs, Moss Institute, BikesportNZ.com, Oakley goggles and SFX Seats.