Lange in class of his own

Marlborough's Steve Lange continued his mastery of the vets class at the Gold Nuggets Motocross in Ikamatua last weekend.

A regular each year at the iconic West Coast meeting, and near the top of the field in 35-44-year vets age group, Lange was in untouchable form on his KTM, winning all five races to run away with the class title.

Aidan Meltzer led the way for Marlborough riders in the MX1 placing 10th, while Kaikoura's Kieran Howden was 12th.

In a large 38-strong MX2 class, Alister Grinter was 15th, Nick Palmer 16th and Mark Noad 18th.

Noad showed courage to ride on after one of the infamous rocks that litter the track flicked up into his face.

Grinter, riding a new Suzuki RMX 450, was in position to challenge for the enduro title, placed second after Saturday's racing.

However, injuries took their toll on Sunday and he slipped to fourth overall.

Grinter has plenty of competition, even in his own family, with younger brother Myles Grinter, in form on his KX85, taking fourth position in the 13-16 years 85cc.

In the 12-16 years, 125cc Mitchell McKenzie-Mol took third.

After battling for the lead and winning one of Saturday's races he couldn't maintain the pace on Sunday.

Picton's Henry Evans and Sam Neal were inseparable all weekend, finishing sixth and seventh respectively.

At the youngest end of the age scale, Jack Dalton proved hard to beat, winning eight of nine races to take clutched mini honours. He showed he is one of the best mini riders in the South Island, after a third placing in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Woodville the previous weekend.

He was joined in the 65cc class by Hayze Shuttleworth and George Gibb who finished seventh and 20th respectively in their first outing in the top class.

Ben Dalton was 6th in the 4-6 years 50cc class, posting the third fastest lap times of the class.

- The Marlborough Express