Auckland Motocross Champs - Junior/Mini results and commentsGreat day's racing for all. The main track was shallow ripped and watered just enough for the Juniors. It held up surprisingly well considering the wind was doing it's best to dry it out. Typical with clay, by the end of the day it was hard pack with black tyre marks on the landing areas.Red Bull had a welcome presence with the big 8 metre arch and a Wig-Wam in the lawn. On Friday night they had put the arch down on jump #10 however the high winds were threatening havoc. It was then moved up to the top of the riders entrance to the track. Mid afternoon on Saturday it was being battered by the wind and it split at the top - shame as it looked great.  Rider's briefing. Madmax Photography's Guy Maxwell from Rotorua is in the centre foreground. For Facebook users Guy has Day 1 photos up - click here  Lots of colour.  How cut is this wee man? Meet 6 month old Marcus Paniani whose mum Stephanie was working in the busy food section - Stephanie is Troy Tipene's niece. Kieran Leigh was there supporting CMR KTM Team's juniors. Not riding Sunday as he's still sore having had the screws out of his femur. On the big track visiting Queenslander Dakota Court riding for CRM KTM ran out of gas in his first lap of practice - DAAAD? His problem however at the discretion of the Club he was allowed to set a practice time (aka gate pick) running with one of the 125 classes. In Lap 3 of Race 1 of the 8 to 11 years 65cc rider Oceana Hardwidge, who had last weekend at Reefton won the 'Girls all in" at the Mini Nats, over- jumped the big step-up and landed in the ruts subsequently going over the bars. Her 65 launched itself violently over the barrier. Moses Te Kani (dad of Jesse) was sitting there on a quad minding his own business, but saw it coming. Moses dropped over the side and in doing so exposed his leg. Reaction instinct was to also put up his arm. He got seriously sconed by the bike and it looked like he may have broken his forearm plus he had a very sore leg. I rang them tonight on behalf of the Club and he is okay, arm not broken but very sore. Moses son Jesse was also in the race and held 2nd. Oceana? After a lengthy visit to the Medic rooms she was taken to hospital - her wrist was broken in three places. In the same class was Australian Tyler Darby in the 65 cc class. He too was at the MIni Nats and was 2nd behind Maximus Purvis. Tyler won the Auckland 8-11 years by just 1 point but his jumping skills were incredible. If you are familiar with #10 before the Finish line, he was clearing it well beyond the downramp - great to see. They flew out at 0630 Sunday morning as Tyler was racing today - in Australia. At the Mini track they had a big day. I went over delivering the trophies and watched a 50cc Intro race - proper gates as well. The bikes are revving, the gates dropped and nothing happens. All the dads behind yell; "GO,GO, GO." Several never made it out and several fell in the straight. Red flag consternation and back they go to start again. Same routine and in the holeshot corner two go down. Tears all round but after a minutes composure, off they go again. Very cute. Trophies are big time at Minis and they were through to 5th place and every 'other' rider recieved a participation medal. Juniors provided some great racing all day and their trophies were also to 5th place and the top 3 each received a NZ MXoN Team cap courtesy of Tony Cooksley. I missed prize-giving as on duty on the KX Moke towing the trailer with hay bale seats for ferrying spectators back to the carpark - young and old loved it! For some unknown reason Mini results have still not been posted. 8-11 years 65cc  8-10 years 85cc  Time for a set of big wheels for Jesse. 11-12 years 85cc  Great day for Claude winning every race by margins of 25,14 and 20 seconds. As Neil Ritchie said; "Today, Claude Griffith owns Harrisville". 13-16 years 85cc  12-14 years 125cc  Josiah was on a YZ85, out to 103cc. 15-16 years 125cc  This was the best racing all day. The top 4 battled in every race and Rotorua's Cameron Vaughan is not a name we are familiar with at Harrisville. Cameron 'rose to fame' at Taupo's Extravaganza and obviously in form - he rode very well. 14-16 years 250F  Great racing here. Micah was gone in every race but Jacob and Dakota had there own race. In Race 1, 2nd to 4th were very close. In Race 2 Jacob ran the Australian down - to win by less than a bike length - 1.233 seconds to be precise. Jacob rode very well and visibly now carrying more speed. Mini Track 50cc Intro  50cc MX 4-7 years  Confused as to why there is a 4-7 and a 6-8 Class? It is a KTM Class and the 6-8 ride the KTM50SX. The 4-7 is a Support Class and ride either the KTM SX Adventurer or the KTM SX Mini. Now you know! 50cc MX 6-8 years  Trail:  65cc 7-8 years  65cc 9-11 years  |