After a successful conclusion, GNCC New Zealand is celebrating the closing of the 2022 series after a final round at Tauranga's Maddix Park.

For the four rounds of this cross-country event, organiser Paul Whibley, himself a multi-international champion, selects venues in the North Island that offer a variety of terrain and scenery to challenge, inspire and encourage budding young riders.

The event also caters for seasoned vets, current and past champions and anyone out for a fun day on two wheels and wanting to hone their skills.

Maddix Park has it all and this year the conditions were near perfect. Challenging in the right places with a good mix of technical, tight, creek crossings, and free flowing uphills and downs, plus a track surface that could be soft, slippery or supplying the obligatory mud holes.

Saturday's round 4 winner was a repeat of last year. Tommy Watts has recently returned from several months overseas.

He saved for 3 years, then spent it all in 3 months, firstly representing NZ in the Junior World Trophy section of the ISDE in France – 6 very long days for a 7th place - and then, swapping continents to compete in the final 4 rounds of the renowned USA GNCC.

'Racing in the US was an awesome experience, that I'm keen to do again,” he says.

'But racing here today I realized how much the technicality and variety of the Maddix tracks resemble the ones I encountered in the US,” he adds, echoing Paul Whibley's own comments re-iterated over the years.

This OE experience gave Tommy an edge. After a bad start, he, and his Yamaha YZ250 FX, claimed the lead in lap 4 and the overall win in lap 6. He recorded the fastest lap (22:35) in the 2.5 hour race.

The competition Tommy faced, however, was far from sluggish. Damon Nield, now based in Tauranga, became the 2022 New Zealand MotoSR GNCC Champion.

'I struggled a bit today. It was a totally new track for me, but I managed a 3rd place in the overall. Being on the podium in every round helped bring home the big trophy.”

The ‘big trophy' is inscribed with an illustrious list of past champions, none of whom probably had a mantlepiece big enough to sit it on.

Long-time Tauranga rider Reece Burgess seems to be an eternally strong cross-country contender. 'I led for the first 3 laps,” he reports.

'The track was pretty good with lots of line choices. You had to keep your brain in gear and pick the good ones. My fitness let me down, but no injuries, so a good day.”

Reece was 3rd in the XC1 class on the day and also in the series. Competition was hot between Anthony Gunter (Tauranga) and Anthony Paterson (Cambridge) for the series win in the Intermediate 4 Stroke class.

At the start of the Maddix round, only 2 points separated the two riders. 44 seconds ahead, the Cambridge Anthony prevailed, and the Tauranga Anthony was runner up both on the day and also in the series.

Charlotte Russ (Auckland) added another first place to her two firsts in previous rounds and won the series in the Intermediate Ladies class. She found the event 'heaps of fun and really great riding”.

'Thanks to the marshalls, and in particular those who helped us out by chucking a few pongas into the ruts,” says Rotorua's William Couldrey.

'It was fun, and I was successful. 5th today and 1 for the series in the Vets 40-49 class. Jacob on #116 rode tirelessly all day,” says Matamata's Dale Saunders.

'Great atmosphere and good help in the mud hole for those that needed it - like me,” says Tauranga's Jayden Burchett.

'It was tough but good - for a young pensioner like me. I came off and got stuck under my bike at one point. Reece (my son) happened along and wanted to help. I waved him on and got myself out,” says Paul Bugess.

'Congratulations to all those who rode in the GNCC 2022. Sincere thanks to Paul Whibley for organising and running another brilliant series - and also, as one rider mentioned, for not competing,” says an event spokesperson.

'Many thanks also to the sponsors Yamaha Motor New Zealand, Yamalube, BluCru, GYTR, YMF/YMI, Moto SR, Motomuck, Un4seen Decals, Arai, O'Neal, Forma boots, USWE, Blur goggles, Metzeler, IMS, Renthal, EK Chains, Brownell Earthmoving & Plant Hire.”

For the complete results of the GNCC Round Four, visit the silver-bullet website.