Elwin's Te Kuiti hat-trick

Taihape's Sarah Elwin was in sensational form at the weekend's Waikato Motocross Championships near Te Kuiti. PHOTO/ANDY MCGECHAN, BIKESPORTNZ.COM

It is fireworks time of year again, so what better occasion for Taihape motocross ace Sarah Elwin to be at her explosive best?

The 19-year-old New Zealand senior women's No1 was in sparkling form at the weekend's Waikato Motocross Championships, near Te Kuiti, leading a Yamaha 1-2 at the top of the all-in women's class podium, as fellow national champion Mikayla Rowe, riding an identical Yamaha YZ125, finished an impressive runner-up.

Third best in the class on Sunday was Alana Lane, from Tuakau, riding a 250cc Suzuki.

Elwin (Bike Torque MX Antix BikesportNZ.com YZ125), who works as a service writer for one of her sponsors, Yamaha dealer Bike Torque in Otorohanga, was seemingly untouchable as she scorched to a hat-trick of wins on Sunday. New Plymouth's Rowe (Mach 1 Ideal Buildings BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ125) finished the day 11 points adrift of Elwin.

"The track was amazing," said Elwin afterwards.

"Today it was just about me getting out there and having some bike time because the women's nationals are coming up [just south of Christchurch in about two weeks' time] and I need to be ready for that.

"I won all three races today but there is always room for improvement and I've still got a bit of work to do before I'm totally happy with my form.

"I am still struggling a bit with an old wrist injury and that slowed me down today. Also, I feel I need to work on my starts."

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Rowe, the national junior women's champion last season, was similarly impressive, especially as she has not been on her bike much in the past four months.

The Year 12 pupil at New Plymouth Girls' High School looked strong throughout the day, notching up a 2-2-3 score-card, and she will certainly be a title contender again at the women's nationals.