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The 2007 Yamaha Tarawera 100 is over for another year. The annual endurance event was attended by 350 riders who, from the 'shotgun' start headed off on a 100 mile adventure through the spectacular tracks and trails of the Matahina Forest.
Part of the tradition is it's 100 miles - 167 kilometres made up of 4 x 25 mile loops. It was a spectacular event, with brilliant racing from some of New Zealand's best motocross and enduro stars.
Cody Cooper (Honda CRF450R) was first out of the forest on lap four to take the overall win by 3 minutes 26 seconds.
"The track was mint," said a delighted Cooper.
"It was wet at the start and there was a couple of muddy sections but otherwise it was great. I got passed Shayne (King) on the second lap and did not realise that I had hit him with a big rock that hurt his thumb. I battled with Daryl Hurley (Suzuki) midway into the third lap, then he disappeared."
"I had a long fuel pitstop because my fire extinguisher was loose and I was worried that if I lost it I might get penalised. So we fitted another one to the handlebars which was just as well as the other one did disappear. I was told Hurles had hit a tree and broken his collar bone so with him gone I was able to cruise the last lap" he said.
"Did you enjoy it ?" I asked.
"Yeah, I had a real good time" he said emphatically.
Damien King (Yamaha) was 2nd and Barry Morris (Yamaha) was 3rd.
Honda CRF450R riders Shayne King and Peter Broxholme were 4th and 5th respectively.
I caught up with Shayne King. "I got a good start and sat in behind Barry Morris and Cam Negus for the first lap" he said.
"At the first fuel stop I got out ten seconds in front and when Coops (Cody Cooper) got past he threw up a hail of stones and one big one got me on the thumb. It pushed the nail back and the bone into the joint and was very painful. To make matters worse, because I could not grip with my thumb, I ended up with blisters."
"This is the first time I have done one and apart from the thumb would do another tomorrow" he said enthusiastically. "I just loved it, perfect berms, it was just like a big motocross track" he continued.
The Castrol Honda Red Riders Team also won the Team's Event with three top five placings. Blue Wing Honda had several riders in the other classes such as those on the CRF250 but the results have still not been posted as we go to press.
Cooper returns to Australia Friday week for Round 7 of the Australian Motocross Championships at Wonthaggi, Victoria where his No Fear Honda Team will be re-joined by a recuperated Craig Anderson
