Battle intensifies for dirt guide honour

Former Kiwi motorcycling international Callan May hopes to continue his winning run when he tackles the Dirt Guide cross-country series competition near Atiamuri this coming weekend.

Because round two of the popular series earlier this month was cancelled after torrential rain flooded the forest at Ohakuri, this Sunday's race – also at Ohakuri, about halfway between Tokoroa and Taupo – registers as round two of what has now been abbreviated to a three-round competition.


Titirangi's Callan May (Yamaha YZ250FX), looking to make another statement this weekend. Photo: Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Series promoter Sean Clarke, of Tokoroa, says the original format was for three of the four rounds to be counted, as riders were to discard their one worst score, but, because the series is now reduced to only three rounds in total, all points will be counted.

That puts Yamaha rider May in an ideal position to win the competition outright.

The 24-year-old won the opening round at Tar Hill, near Tokoroa, in June and has kept his winning momentum going with a convincing victory also at round three of the parallel but separate NZXC cross-country series in the Manawatu just over a week ago.

May knows he can take nothing for granted with riders such as Manawatu's Paul Whibley (Yamaha), Coatesville's Sam Greenslade (KTM) and Palmerston North's Adam Reeves (Suzuki) just a handful of the many who will be expected to apply pressure on Sunday.

The popularity of The Dirt Guide Series continues to grow rapidly and, with separate trails and several different grades incorporated into the day's racing, catering for all levels of confidence and ability, Sunday's event is also an ideal opportunity for the lesser or novice riders to learn from masters such as May, Whibley, Greenslade and Reeves.

"We want all dirt bike owners to come and have a go at bush riding," says Clarke.

"With riders getting older every year, we are really keen to provide an experience to entice the younger riders to come along and ride. There are classes for mini bike riders as young as seven.

"Only a few people ever win races like this, so it's not about the winning, but about participation."

The talent runs deep at the sharp end of the serious part of the competition, with Taupo's current national cross-country and enduro champion Brad Groombridge (Suzuki), Howick's Liam Draper (Husqvarna), Rotorua's Bradley Lauder (KTM), Wellington's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna) and Te Awamutu's Kevin Archer (KTM), to name just a few, among those worth watching and learning from over the course of the two-hour senior race.

It is expected that other leading riders such as Atiamuri's Hadleigh Knight, Morrinsville's Nathan Tesselaar, Waimauku's Jake Wightman and Cambridge's Ashton Grey will also be contenders to win the expert grade on Sunday. Thames rider Natasha Cairns will be firm favourite to win the women's grade.

In addition to the expert grade riders, the series caters also for mini and junior riders and for intermediates, veterans and women as well.

The forest venue is midway between Tokoroa and Taupo, with the 90-minute junior race set to kick off at 9.30am, while the two-hour senior race will start at about 12.30pm.

The final round of the Dirt Guide Series is set for Tar Hill, about 20 kilometres south of Tokoroa, on October 2.

The Dirt Guide series is sponsored by Michelin, Bel Ray, Renthal, O'Neal, DRC, Zeta, Kiwi Rider magazine, Oakley, TCX boots and Yoshimura.

-Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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