DIRT NEWS

for me today . I had not really prepared myself properly for this ”. Each of the four laps was divided into two timed sections – the cross-country loop and multi-choice The Matrix . “ Graham didn ’ t actually have it all go his way ,” said Herbert . “ He was briefly side-lined when his rear tyre broke away from the rim unfortunately , and did lose quite some time and it was actually Laugesen who led the event after the first lap ,” said Herbert . “ Jarvis had to really put his head down for the next three laps and we got to see him at his best . “ We ’ ve run this event six times now and it ’ s the first win also for the Husqvarna brand . It ’ s level in the trials-versus-dirt bike head-to-head battle . We had 78 riders lining up to race this year and that ’ s almost double our record from previous years . “ We had so many riders indicating that they ’ d be keen to return , including Jarvis , and the positive feedback was enormous . We ’ re obviously doing something right here . “ This year we had a guy who wins these things at international level and Jarvis seemed comfortable with everything we threw at him .” This would not have been a surprise to anybody . Jarvis is a five-time British trials champion and a five-time winner of the famous Red Bull Erzbergrodeo , held each year on daunting terrain in and around an iron ore mine and quarry in central Austria . He also won a record seventh Red Bull Romaniacs event in 2022 , the gruelling race that is held annually in the steep and treacherous Carpathian Mountains near Sibiu , in Romania . That this year ’ s Korito Technical Matrix in Taranaki could attract such a high-profile international competitor as Jarvis is a massive tribute to the event and high praise indeed to Herbert and his hardworking crew of volunteers who create and manage the course . Meanwhile , the Silver Grade at the 2023 Korito Technical Matrix was won by Whangamata ’ s Ethan Jameson , ahead of Urenui pair Dan O ’ Leary and Rob Berrington Smith . The Bronze Grade was won by Ryan Corbett , who finished ahead of fellow Taranaki man Travis Taylor and Whangaparaoa ’ s Nathan Refoy . The event and Jarvis ’ bike was sponsored by Johnston ’ s Moto of Inglewood , Egmont Industrial Supplies and Hunger Contracting .

Andy McGechan , bikesportnz . com

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