Missing from Action
Taupo Round 4
There were a few riders missing off the points list at round 4 at Taupo last week. Some were missing at the start – school holidays accounted for some absentees, there were riders without transponders, but others had excuses.
Jovhann Phillips missed the event totally because he had knocked himself out falling off a rock climbing wall!
Matt Kenyon didn’t get to the end of the first race. He was in 4th gear, his front wheel went into a hole and he cart-wheeled his way to hospital but is now home nursing a badly bruised hip and upper arm and a split bike radiator.
Others went missing at various stages during the event itself. Sam Meredith had bike problems in race 2. Cam McCaskie went too fast around a corner, hit a tyre and went over the bars in soft stuff in his 3rd race gaining a sore knee and a bit of a limp in the process.
The track changes especially in the sawdust section certainly caught out many riders. The down jump had been removed and you had to go up the sawdust and face the big square-faced holes that developed. It got a bit gnarly in the middle but “people have to learn”.
However, it was by no means a negative day. There may have been cold, freezing fingers initially but Taupo turned on some gorgeous sunshine against a background of snow, the track was mint, as always and our local riders achieved certain success.
Aaron Wiltshier was second for the day behind Hadleigh Knight in the Junior 12-14 years 125cc. He enjoyed the recent KTM training day but is still getting his fitness back. Evan Hawkless in the same class found the track changes a little disconcerting and didn’t really fire but came in 8th for the day.
Katikati’s Garth Amrein was first in the 15-16 years 125cc class with Cam McCaskie’s one DNF leaving him 6th.
The McClymont brothers came home buzzing – they had managed the sawdust well. Jack took 3 second places behind Maximus Purvis for 2nd on the day in the 8-10 years 85cc class. Jack is stoked at how he’s getting used to his 85. Josh on his 65 has gained heaps of confidence and finished 6th for the day. He had previously had some bad luck in the big step up but that’s now sorted and he even beat his brother off the line in 2 starts.
Trent Haywood (pictured) continues to work his way back with his best finish of 11th in the last race.
In the 9-11 years 65cc class, Chris Merriman is doing some counting in his head to get super ready on the line up and it’s working. His starts are really improving. After a 5th in race1, Chris had a really “mean” race in race 2 but missed out on 1st by just half a second! He was again with the front runners in race 3 when he stalled in the corner as he took an inside passing line so finished in 4th place for the day. Trent Duggan was 7th and Xavier Anderson 13th in this same very popular 65cc class. Jontae Carroll was 5th overall in his 7-8 year age group. Jacob Hunt was 5th in the 6-8 years MX 50cc division 2 class.
Rotorua’s Scott Canham won both races in the Senior All In and missed 1st place by 1 point in the MX 2 class.
Ben Townley was there riding too, but like many, not for points. Everyone was watching in awe. “If that is his “unfit to ride state”, he’s unbelievable” was one comment. People also noted how nice it was to see him with as son, nice to see his family man side as well as the professional racer.
