Close competition at Kaihoka Lakes

Over  100 riders from the top of the south contested the Kaihoka Lakes motocross championships in Golden Bay at the weekend.

Organisers say the technical track and natural terrain makes for one of the best motocross tracks in the South Island.

The 14 to 16 years 250cc class produced some of the closest racing, between Takaka's Hamish Harwood and Nelson's Mitchell Biggs, both on Yamaha YZF 250s, with Biggs winning by one point.

The top three MX2 riders finished with equal points, and placings had to be decided by countback, with Richmond's Jared Guthrie taking the title from Marlborough's Andrew Rudd.

Motueka's Indii Chapman and Richmond's Bradley Biggs enjoyed some tight racing in the 12-16 years 85cc class, with the lead changing in every race, and often several times during a race, before Biggs prevailed.

A group of mini riders on 65cc bikes competed on a shortened main track that incorporated most of the large jumps.

There was only one major injury during the event, when Jonti Harte-Seidl suffered a cracked collarbone.

Results - clutched minis: Jackson Gale (Nelson) 1, Hayze Shuttleworth (Nelson) 2, Sam Gale (Nelson) 3; 12-16 years 125cc: Hamish Harwood (Takaka) 1, Jayden Moore (Dunsandel) 2, Jesse Morgan (Takaka) 3; 14-16 250cc: Hamish Harwood (Takaka) 1, Mitchell Biggs (Nelson) 2, Ben Codon Tinirau (Westland) 3; 8-11 85cc: Issac Millson (Nelson) 1, Scott Dixon (Motueka) 2, Ezra Chrichton (Brightwater) 3; 12-16 85cc: Bradley Biggs (Richmond) 1, Indii Chapman (Motueka) 2, Charlie Rowe (Wakefield) 3. Senior 125cc: Nathan Clare (Brightwater) 1, Jayden Moore (Dunsandel) 2, Jamie Voigt (Marlborough) 3, MX1: Mike Patterson (Nelson) 1, Hayden Wilkson (Nelson) 2, Ben McConochie (Stoke) 3; MX2: Jared Guthrie (Richmond) 1, Andrew Rudd (Marlborough) 2, Ben McConochie (Stoke) 3; women: Kimberley Murphy (Rangiora) 1, Sandra Silcock (Nelson) 2, Katie Silcock (Upper Moutere) 3. Veterans: Mostyn Wadsworth (Marlborough) 1, Peter Guthrie (Richmond) 2, Heath Botica (Richmond) 3; clubman: Kris Hill (Greymouth) 1, Logan Thomas (Upper Moutere) 2, Chris Reardon (Wakefeild) 3.

Junior feature race (15min race): Hamish Harwood 1, Mitchell Biggs (Nelson) 2, Evan Wadsworth (Marlborough) 3; senior feature race (20min race): Hayden Wilkinson 1, Nathan Clare (Brightwater) 2, Jayden Moore (Dunsandel) 3.

- © Fairfax NZ News