A Real Team Buzz
Battle of the Clubs Report
The Tauranga Club team did not win the event but is very happy with its 13th place out of 24 teams in last weekend’s Battle of the Clubs at Taupo. The previous year they had managed 18th out of 21.
A large part of the credit for this year’s success is due to well known rider and coach Peter Broxholme. “Broxy was brilliant” is the unanimous comment from team members. On the racing side, he contributed heaps. After winning his first race (MX2 & Vets) hands down, he got caught in a crash in the first corner in the MX1/MX2 race which meant a last place start. However, through inspirational riding, he worked his way from the back of the pack to 3rd position and the best points result of the day for Tauranga.
But, off the track as well, he and vet rider Dion Steiner were a source of encouragement and inspiration for the junior Tauranga riders who were having their first taste of team competition. And they loved it. There was a great atmosphere. Everyone was buzzing. They had their club tee-shirts with their names on the back and they were riding with all the best riders in the country.
Each race had a 2 classes combined. Matt Kenyon (125cc) was 20th in the junior 85cc/125ccs and 24th in the 125cc/250 4 stroke race. Jovhann Phillips on his little 85cc did find the big bikes hugely intimidating but came 37th in the 85cc/125cc race and 32nd in the 85cc/250 4 stroke race. Cam McCaskie (250 4 stroke) was 28th in the 125/250 race and 33rd in the 85cc/250cc race. In the latter he had been running 14th until he fell off in the whoops out the back.
Scott Barr-Smith, the Tauranga rep in the MX 1 class, was perhaps not riding to his full potential because 1. he was riding a borrowed 450 which was shockingly set up, 2. he was still suffering pain from his ankle injury and 3. he wiped himself out in the sawdust pit.
This resulted in an 18th place in the Vets/MX1 clash and a 27th in the MX1/MX2 race.
Dion Steiner also came off in the sawdust and finished 23rd in both the combined Vets/Mx1 and Vets/Mx2 races.
Without a couple of these unfortunate offs, Tauranga might have made it into the top 10. That will be the challenge for next year.
Other local riders were racing but not as part of the Tauranga team.
Garth Amrein and Aaron Wiltshier rode in the 125cc class for Patetonga and Taupo(?) respectively with Aaron gaining a 6th and a 17th while Garth placed 9th and 12th. Rob Sutherland rode the Vet class for Patetonga taking a 30th and 27th.
Cody Cooper rode for Whakatane (“because they asked me”) and helped the club to its second place podium finish with a 47 second margin win in the MX1/Vets race but didn’t start his second race because of bike problems.
The Battle of the Clubs event was won by the Rotorua Motorcycle Club with Michael Phillips, Haki Waller and Scott Canham in particular playing key roles.
Team events certainly bring another dynamic to the sport of motorcycling. A lot of riders would like to be more involved from a team point of view. It would be great to see more riders being given the opportunity to sport their team colours and participate in such or similar events.
