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MAY 7, 2007: There was no stopping Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont at the third and final round of the New Zealand Junior Cross-country Championships near Waipukurau on Sunday.
The 13-year-old Yamaha rider did not lead at the start of the 90-minute race but it didn’t take long for him to catch and pass fast starters Jason Dickey (Raglan) and Luke Kwok (Hastings).
From there it was just a matter for Lamont (Yamaha YZ85) to settle into a rhythm and extend his lead. Lamont also won round two of the series at Rotorua in March.
Raetihi brothers Charles and Alfred Alabaster were both on the podium at Waipukurau. The sibling rivals put their almost identical Yamaha YZF250 bikes into second and third place respectively in the chase for junior over-200cc four-stroke honours, Charles finishing just three points behind class winner Jason Price (Pukekohe).
The series finale for the junior riders shared the programme with the one-off senior nationals on Sunday, the seniors racing for three hours and over a slightly longer course.
The senior race was won by Taupo’s Nick Saunders, with Te Kauwhata’s Jason Moorfield second and Ngaruawahia’s Heath Howlett third.
Howlett (Yamaha YZ250), a 21-year-old electrician, decided to play it safe on Sunday and he was rewarded by winning the race-within-a-race for over-200cc two-stroke class honours.
“I was sixth at the start and usually I go rip, shit and bust at the start. But I decided this time to ease up and settle behind the leaders and look to make a move later in the race. Unfortunately they got away from me a bit and I had to settle for third.”
Rotorua’s Cam Negus (Yamaha), one of the favourites before the race began, led from the start but he “simply ran out of steam” and dropped back to finish sixth.
“I guess the sleep deprivation got to me,” said the new father. “I had to back off because I couldn’t hang on and it was becoming too dangerous,” said the 32-year-old dry stock farmer.
Meanwhile, staying awake was not a problem for brothers Steven and Ross Bird, the two Yamaha men sibling rivals for the veterans’ class title.
In the end, it was Steven (Yamaha YZ250) winning from Ross (Yamaha WR450), with Taupiri’s Mark Fuller third.
Taranaki’s Karl Roberts (Yamaha YZ125) finished runner-up to Whangamata’s Jason Davis in the under-200cc two-stroke class, while the evergreen Mitch Rowe (New Plymouth, Yamaha YZF450) finished ninth overall and runner-up to Saunders in the over-300cc four-stroke class.
