COMPETITION
SAM PARKER
distinctive orange machines . That ’ s also how it worked out for the series overall , Whitaker taking the main honours in the senior grade , followed by Nield , Hayward and then Rotorua ’ s Daniel Bates ( KTM 250XC ), finally making it a KTM bike 1-2-3-4 for the series overall . But the spotlight shone most brightly on Whitaker , the now 31-year-old father-of-two who was a record eight-time New Zealand trials champion , before switching codes to focus on enduro and cross-country racing instead . “ I didn ’ t get a great start on Saturday and was only about third or fourth out of the first corner . I sat in that position for the first half of lap one [ of what would eventually be a five-lap race ]. Then I took the lead . “ Blake Wilkins ( Husqvarna FE250 ) put a bit of pressure on me and it was tough because I knew he was my main threat for the series honours . We were equal on points at the start of the day and I really needed to beat him .”
But then luck played a part and it good luck for Whitaker and bad luck for Wilkins . “ Blake got stuck in a bog behind me and I think that was pretty much the end of his day . It ’ s a shame for him . He was riding so well . “ My riding speed has improved though , lately , and I credit recent motocross racing for that . I ’ m better at reading the terrain at pace and have increased my cornering speed too .” The two individuals who dominated rounds one and two of the series – Taupo ’ s Wil Yeoman ( Yamaha YZ250FX ) and Oparau ’ s James Scott ( Honda CRF250RX ) respectively – were noshows at the final round because they had just flown out to France to compete with the rest of the New Zealand team at the annual International Six Days Enduro , set to start on the Monday , just two days later . Yeoman was in impeccable form at the series opener at Tar Hill , just south of Tokoroa , in July , capturing the win ahead of Oratia ’ s Callan May ( KTM250EXC-F ).
KIWI RIDER 35