Many riders had already arrived in the region before the restrictions were announced. “It was a bit of a drama for us to get this happening,” Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth said. “We spent a couple of hours ringing around medics between 11.30pm and midnight, but thanks to help from [national series steward] Lauren Stockley, we got it all organised and we were only half-an-hour late getting started.” Taupō s Wil Yeoman led from start to finish dominating the 90-minute junior grade race overall (and in his premier up-to-300cc four-stroke class) on Sunday morning. He crossed the finish line half-a-minute ahead of runner-up rider Luke Brown, from Eketahuna.
Press Release – Bikesport NZ
The senior podium at round one of the 2021 New Zealand Cross-country Championships near Marton on Sunday was (from left) Palmerston North’s Paul Whibley (2nd), Napier’s Tommy Watts (1st) and Napier’s Reece Lister (3rd). Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
MARCH 1, 2021: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world, but the hardiest of Kiwis have once again knuckled down to find a way to carry on with their lives.
The 2020 New Zealand Cross-country Championships were abandoned when the virus first impacted on sports in New Zealand in March last year and, almost exactly 12 months later, a fresh outbreak again threatened to end the competition before it had really begun.
Reigning senior champion is 26-year-old Raglan farmer Jason Dickey, the outright winner when the series was last held in 2019. He is sidelined with an ankle injury and unable to defend his crown. Likewise for Taupōs three-time former champion Brad Groombridge, who has a knee injury after he crashed during the motocross nationals event near Rotorua on Sunday. However, Whanganui s Seth Reardon, the runner-up in 2019, is expected to line up on Sunday, alongside Palmerston North s 2015 national champion Paul Whibley, Wairoa s Tommy Watts, Pahīatua s Charles Alabaster, Raglan s Brandon Given, Hamilton s Phil Goodwright and Andrew Charleston, Te Kauwhata s Jacob Brown and Rotorua s Callum Dudson.
Tuesday, 23 February 2021, 11:54 am
New Zealand s elite cross-country racers will be
back in business this weekend and, after a 2020 season
ruined by a pesky virus, the 2021 series is sure to be a
ripper.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced organisers to
write off the 2020 Yamaha-sponsored New Zealand
Cross-country Championships, just a week after the
competition had kicked off in the Rangitikei region last
February and, with the country now under only Level One
restrictions, riders will be eager to make a welcome return
to the exact same venue for the start of the 2021 series
this Sunday.
The four-round series kicks off on
farmland near Marton on Sunday, with a line-up that s likely
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