ROUND ONE Wainuiomata ’ s Jake Whitaker picked up where he left off last year when he won the opening round of the 2020 New Zealand Extreme Off- Road Championship series on September 13 . The four-round Yamaha-sponsored series for 2020 roared into life at Moonshine , in the Akatarawa Forest , halfway between Porirua and the Hutt Valley , with defending 2019 champion Whitaker – now riding a 2020-model KTM EXC300tpi two-stroke bike – topping the podium in the elite Gold Grade . Helensville ’ s Tommy Buxton ( KTM EXC300 ) finished runner-up in this gruelling dirt bike series last season and he was again forced to accept the No . 2 spot at Moonshine , although there was nothing really to separate these two athletes , even after more than four hours of highintensity racing .
Lower Hutt rider Ryan Scullion ( KTM EXC300 ) finished third at Moonshine , while New Plymouth ’ s Tony Parker ( KTM XCW300 ) and Rotorua ’ s Bradley Lauder ( Husqvarna TX300 ) rounded out the top five in the Gold Grade . Top riders in the Silver Grade were Taranaki father and son Dougy Herbert ( Husqvarna TE300 ) and Daniel Herbert ( KTM 250 EXCtpi ) with Otaki ’ s Matt Lauder ( KTM XC250 ) finishing third overall . Best of the Bronze Grade riders were Rerewhakaaitu ’ s Zach Sefuiva ( KTM EXC 250tpi ), Whangamata ’ s Ethan Jameson ( Husqvarna TE150 ) and Rotorua ’ s Harrison McClintock ( KTM XC150 ). “ Tommy had the lead on me through the first short lap , but I managed to find a way past him during the long second section ,” said the 29-year-old Whitaker afterwards .
KIWI RIDER 25