Summercross 2010 Day 1
Minis, Juniors & Women
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Over 100 minis competed in the 2010 Summercross. It was a hot day, the track was fast but it did get really rough. It was so dusty, it was difficult to see the holes, but it was nevertheless an excellent day.
Jontae Carroll was on the gas right from the word go, rode “awesomely” and was “stoked” to come away with 3 wins and the well-earned Summercross title in the 50cc 4-7 years class. It capped a year when he has mostly been one step down on the podium behind fellow Tauranga rider, Jacob Hunt. Jacob, at his last event in this age category, had won everything else in 2010 but had a real bad day at Awakaponga. He hurt his arm when his bike flipped in the practice but continued racing and gained a 3rd place overall.
Trent Duggan was on the podium in 3rd place in the 53cc 6-8 years class with Sean Callinan riding consistently into 9th place.
In the 7-8 years 65cc class, Josh McClymont with 2/1 finishes in the first 2 races was tied in 1st place at the beginning of the race 3. After a shocker start he was at the back of the field but worked his way up to 2nd and 2nd place on the podium. He was “stuffed” but states he is really pleased to have “got his nerve back”.
The 65cc 9-11 years class had once again a large field of over 30 riders. Jack McClymont was the top Tauranga rider but just missed out on the podium - he finished in 4th place – in his last race on the 65 before moving up to an 85. Brad Cameron was 8th and a little disappointed that the track had changed. The long straight had been taken out and there were no jumps so he felt it was sort of boring. These sentiments were echoed by several others. “The kids are more used to using the track and pushing off berms,” says one of the Dads, “Basically this was a flat paddock with a few humps and bumps and no berms and no jumps.”
Chris Merriman rounded out the top 10. He had a reasonable first race (5th) but then the gremlins that have pursued him for a lot of the year were back. He got taken out in race2 and had start problems & an off in race 3 but came back to finish 12th. Xavier Anderson was 16th, Connor Hawkless 18th and Harrison Moore, in his first major event in this class, 20th.
Harrison Moore did double classes and came second in the Trail 7-11 Years with Brad Jeffrey in 5th position and Issha-Grace Phillips, who improved her placings with each race, in 12th. (Isha has decided to “retire” from MX and take up horse riding.) AJ Steiner was another who improved his placing with each race and finished 12th in the 4-8 Years trail group.
On the main track, there were near full gates for the Junior and Women’s races. The Whakatane club is doing a superb job of developing the site as well as the track and chopping off hill tops for better viewing. The track was fantastic. A heap of dirt has been imported and the old mini track has been converted into 2 sets of woops and hi speed rollers.
Spectators were able to see outstanding performances from Isaiah & Micah McGoldrick, Dion Picard, Josh Jack, Cohen Chase, Josaiah Natzke and ,of course, the brilliant Courtney Duncan. (See AndyMcGechan’s report on www.bikesportnz.com and www.moto-media.net). Courtney and her strength and fitness totally dominated both the 14-16 85cc and the Women’s classes. In one race she cart-wheeled off at the hole-shot corner so was last starting. By the end of the 1st lap she was already back in 8th position, by the end of the second, she was 3rd and by the end of the third lap she was leading the field.
Tauranga riders didn’t make the podiums however several riders achieved what they considered “personal bests” as they managed to finish ahead of traditional rivals. There was some hot machinery on the track in the 85cc 8-11 years races with Josaiah Natzke “moon beams ahead of the others”. Jovhann Phillips was the top local finisher in 7th place. He had good lap times but his disastrous first race dropped him a couple of finishing places. In race 1, he was taken out 2 metres from the start line by a rider who, unused to the “watered” concrete of the start line, veered across sideways, causing Jovhann to be one of the last starters. It was back to square one again after a big wipe-out in the sawdust, but Jovhann clawed his way back to 15th out of 37, his worst finish of the day. It was a really encouraging day. Jovhann came away knowing he can do it. Tyler Steiner was 9th and Trent Haywood had a good day and rode really well for 16th. Connor Lucas (30th) liked the track changes and achieved his aim of not crashing in his first major meeting on the 85cc.
In the 12-13 Years 85cc, Evan Hawkless was not so lucky. He broke his gear lever assembly in the 1st lap of race one, managed 3 laps but was out for the rest of the day.
In the 125cc 12-15 Years, Kurt Langford was one off the podium in a highly competitive “stacked field” of 30 riders. Max Emett described the racing as “hot and intense”. He finished 13th ahead of Cam McCaskie (15th) and Taylor Trott (17th). Matthew Atchison finished 17th in the 31 strong field of 250cc riders.
Top finishers in the Women’s class were Jessie Waterhouse (6th) and Casey Waterhouse (7th). Ashley Bond came in 17th and Kylie Darby 18th.
Full results are on www.mylaps.co.nz .
