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One Riders Perspective...
With the hot weather we’ve been having lately, it was shaping up to be another hot dusty event, however a decent dose of rain on Friday ensured that the second installment of the 2010 Raglan Rocx at least had a chance of turning out to be a better than average event.
With an Enduro X on in Te Puke, Paul Whibley going back to the US, the pointy end of the country’s top Cross country and enduro riders were a bit depleted, however current CC Number One Adam Reeves turned up along with the KMP Kawasaki team to head the charge.
To keep them honest were some of New Zealand’s best MX stars, Ben Townly/Jaden Gray, Luke Burkhart/Brad Groombridge, Cody Cooper/Jesse Donnelly, and Mason Phillips teamed up with Luke Ramsey to make a number of strong teams. Micheal Vinning fresh off a second overall at the first round was there as well looking for a good showing.
While the junior and Iron man numbers were similar to the first round, the team’s entries were down. However with the weather and the talent it was shaping up to be a good day.
The juniors got away first at about 10:30 and first round winner Jason Dickey was nearly last away giving some other hopefuls a glimmer of hope, however at the end of lap one It was business as usual and Jason came around in first place, staying there to win by nearly 3 minutes from 10th place starter Ryan Hoskins with Josh Gatenby putting in a last lap charge and setting the fastest lap of the race coming in 19 seconds further back in third.
With a Le Mans start the norm at this event, it was a local Vet team of Roger Russell/John Sattrap getting the hole shot ahead of young guns Boyd Carlson/Jim Orton and Husqvarna mounted Daniel Hoskins/Sam Speedy in third.
KTM’s John Sharland and Scott Birch quickly made their way into the lead, dealing with the slick first lap conditions, until the MXers, not used to running to their bikes therefore a little slower off the line dropped them back down the order.
The battle then ensued throughout the day with first one team then another setting quickest lap times.
In the end, it was a riding lesson from the Ben/Jaden Honda team 8 ½ minutes ahead of Cody/Jesse Suzuki team followed by Luke/Mason on Kawasaki a mere 9 seconds behind them.
Unfortunately, the edge was taken off the day when the 2nd placed team of Luke Burkhart / Brad Groombridge were disqualified for using tear-offs.
The club was quite clear at riders briefing that this was a no no and would not be tolerated and while there was another team suspected of using them, they were not caught red handed and were given the benefit of the doubt.
It's disappointing however that the sweep riders found other tear-offs around the track.
Tear-off's may be ok on a mx track but on farmland they kill stock. Dead stock means loss of riding areas, and this in turn makes it harder for clubs to find land to run events and for us to do what we enjoy, RIDE.
This particular property was pretty well trashed last year because of huge amounts of rain. Despite this the club was welcomed back again this year. However a few dead animals would sour this relationship very quickly, resulting in the loss of yet another riding area.
Clubs have no choice but to crack down on this, and its good to see the club not back down because these guys are the top of our sport. Rules are rules and these riders should have known better, and set the example for others.
On the plus side, Ben Townley said that “It was the most fun he'd had at a cross-country, ever. Traction was perfect, marking was excellent, the venue was awesome”.
Mason Phillips said “it was awesome and he would definitly try to come back next year”. Comments from most other riders at prize giving echoed there sentiments.
Congratulations to the Raglan Club for running another outstanding series. Long may it continue.
