Taihape's Sarah Elwin had to settle for third place after racing went down to the wire at the second day of the 2015 Mach 1 Yamaha NZ Veterans' and Women's Motocross Championships in Opunake on Sunday.
Heading into the third and final race of the senior women's grade, there wasvirtually nothing separating Pahiatua's Letitia Alabaster from Motueka's Katie Silcock at the top of the standings, with Elwin and Te Puke's Mary Wanhill also not far behind.
The rain and wind on the Wiremu Rd farm strengthened by start time, meaning it was vital to begin well.
Alabaster snatched the lead within a few hundred metres and then stretched her advantage, although Nelson's Skye Edwards after a quick start, challenged her over the first two laps.
Silcock was forced to battle through traffic after an unaccustomed poor start, and while she managed to close in near the end, Alabaster won, with the pair's 1-2 finish in the race reflecting their 1-2 finish in the championship.
Elwin secured third with Wanhill and Whangarei's Zia Pitkethley rounding out the top five.
Neither she nor the other competitors in Alabaster and her sister Courtney Alabaster, or the Nelson-based Edwards sisters of Skye, Roma and Tyla will have much time to dwell on the weekend as the regular 2015-16 motocross touring season begins this Saturday. The Labour Weekend MX fest is being staged in Taupo at the Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park, on the outskirts of town.
Other riders in contention for the senior women's class will be Te Awamutu duo Rachael Archer and Chloe Steel, Opotiki's Amy Corston, Taupo's Emma Davis and Cambridge rider Amber Harris.
