    |
 |
|
|
|
MAY 7, 2007: It was a thrilling Kawasaki 1-2 double whammy at the New Zealand Motorcycle Cross-country Championships in Hawke’s Bay on Sunday.
Taupo’s Nick Saunders (Kawasaki KX450F) and Te Kauwhata’s Jason Moorfield (Kawasaki KX250F) took the top two spots at the end of a drama-filled three-hour battle on steep farmland near Waipukurau on Sunday.
Third was Ngaruawahia’s Heath Howlett (Yamaha).
Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny (Suzuki) had led the race as the riders exited the fuel dump area for their 12th and final 16-kilometre lap but the pressure being applied on him by the hard-charging Saunders saw Penny make a rare error, the King Country man crashing his bike into a deep bog.
This allowed his pursuers to zoom past and take the lead with just a few kilometres of the 192km race left to the finish.
The 22-year-old Saunders was naturally elated at winning his first national title.
“I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw Penny stuck in a bog on that last lap,” said Saunders, the parts manage at Taupo Toyota.
“I don’t think anyone counted on me taking this title. I was having a huge battle with Penny throughout the race. I can’t say enough about my bike though. It was like a rocket up those steep hills. I saw plenty of people struggling on the hills but my bike just kept charging.”
In addition to the overall crown, Saunders won the race-within-a-race for the over-300cc four-stroke class title. Moorfield won the under-300cc four-stroke title.
Moorfield (35) actually led the field for half a lap early in the race but was still satisfied to finish runner-up to his team-mate.
“It’s been a long time for me waiting for a No.1 plate (for the class win). Finally I’ve achieved it and won a New Zealand title,” said the mechanical workshop owner.
Sunday’s race also doubled as the third and final round of the New Zealand Junior Cross-Country Championships.
Rotorua’s John Phillips (Kawasaki) was best of the junior riders at Waipukurau, their 90-minute endurance race staged earlier in the day, but it wasn’t quite enough to give him the series win, the series overall honours instead going to Pukekohe’s Jason Price (KTM).
Phillips did, however, win the battle for under-200cc two-stroke class honours, beating Te Kauwhata’s Hale Speedy (KTM) to the trophy.
Meanwhile, Raglan’s Jason Dickey charged hard to bring his Kawasaki KX85 home in second place in the junior 85cc class, Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont taking outright honours for the day and the series.
