Noad eyes podium this time
BY JOHN ALEXANDER
EASY RIDER: Marlborough motocross ace Mark Noad is eyeing up a podium finish in Sunday's Peter Brown Memorial event.
Relevant offers
Mark Noad is one of several Marlborough riders with high hopes of success heading into this weekend's Peter Brown Memorial motocross event near Blenheim.
Noad is contesting the MX two class, racing three heats on Saturday and two on Sunday leading into the feature race of the programme, the Peter Brown Memorial race on Sunday afternoon.
This is a 20-minute race, plus one lap, open to all comers in the senior ranks and Noad reckons he can propel his flash Kawasaki 250cc machine fast enough to at least threaten a podium finish.
He'll only have himself to blame if mechanical problems hamper his progress. Noad is nearing the end of his mechanic's apprenticeship and has his dad, Geoff Noad, owner of their workplace, Automotive Solutions, as his main fix-it man for the event.
"I've raced the Peter Brown three or four times before and got a best place of fifth. I've got a shot at a podium place."
Noad said it wasn't a major handicap having a smaller bike than some, because the physical strain of propelling any machine around a tight and bumpy circuit for that long is huge.
"It's not as tiring with a smaller bike. The track can play a big part in how you finish. I'd prefer a tight, windy track with heaps of fast-flowing jumps and probably more soft, silty sand."
Problem is, it's likely to be muddy, but Noad said he'd cope with whatever was thrown in front of him.
Rather than go flat out from the gun in the main race, Noad said he'd pace himself and pick up speed towards the end and gain momentum.
"You get fatigued quickly but then you get through that.
"I do a lot of training. Weights, heaps of road cycling and mountainbiking. It is a very physical sport."
He's also shooting for a podium place in the MX two class but expects really tough opposition from fellow Marlborough Motorcycle Club riders Evan Wadsworth and Alister Grinter.
The 26-year-old Noad, who's been riding motorbikes for as long as he's been able to walk, has been in good form this season, having finished second in the recent winter series.
More than 170 riders from throughout New Zealand are contesting the 46th annual event, with some of the country's top riders taking part.
Included among them is New Zealand No3-ranked rider in the MX two class, Peter Broxholme, from Tauranga, last year's Peter Brown Memorial race winner.
The MX two class will be particularly competitive, with 40 riders entered.
Shannon Hewetson, now residing in Nelson, is a good chance in the MX one class and in the 35-44 years veteran field, Mark Mirfin and Brian Heaphy are the ones to watch.
The meeting has drawn plenty of sponsorship support, particularly from Croads Honda, Honda New Zealand, Crown Kiwi and Forbes Davies.
The action starts at 10am each day and the feature race on Sunday is set to go at 3pm.
The venue is at Marchburn on the Wairau Valley Rd, about 10 minutes' drive past Renwick, and it will be signposted.
- The Marlborough Express
