COMPETITION
Austria and Romania . “ But my focus more recently has been on cross-country and enduro racing at home ,” said Whitaker , who runs a successful furniture polishing business and also operates a bike seat upholstery business on the side .
THE FORESTLAND XC SERIES The Forestland Cross-Country Series has long been considered a nursery ground for New Zealand ’ s burgeoning international race talent . This competition caters for cross-country riders aged from as young as seven , through teenagers , adult men and women and to the upper age brackets too , with veteran riders in their 60s , or even older , all keen to join in . The popularity of this domestic competition , which features a 90-minute junior race followed soon afterwards by a two-hour senior race , includes separate trails that will cater for all levels of confidence and ability . In terms of the series overall , Whitaker was not only the outright winner , but he was also No . 1 in his class classification , winning the under-300cc four-stroke class . Other class winners in the series this year were Reporoa ’ s Brendon Imlig ( KTM 350 EXC-F , over-300cc four-stroke class ); Tauranga ’ s Reece Burgess ( Husqvarna FC450 ,
veterans ’ 40-49 years ); New Plymouth ’ s Sam Parker ( Husqvarna TE150 , under-200cc twostroke ); Tauranga ’ s Damon Nield ( KTM 250SX , over-200cc two-stroke ). Best of the juniors was Tauranga ’ s Jack Coleman ( Husqvarna TXC250 ), who won the 90-minute junior race at Ohakuri , although Auckland ’ s Leo Copping ( KTM 150XC ) was runner-up at the final round and that was enough for him to win the series overall in the junior grade . Series winners in the various junior and mini grades were Copping ( under-200cc two-stroke ); Masterton ’ s Harvey Williams ( Yamaha YZ85 , 85cc two-stroke and 150cc four-stroke ); Michael Stephens ( Yamaha YZ250FX , 250cc four-stroke ); Stratford ’ s Haley Chesswas ( Husqvarna TC125 , junior novice women ); Tauranga ’ s Hunter Frost ( Honda CRF70 , 7-11 years ’ trail bike class ); Whakatane ’ s Quinn Hawkes ( Husqvarna TC85 , 7-11 years ’ MX class ). The Forestland Cross-country Series was supported by Forbes and Davies , Kiwi Rider Magazine , Forest Trail Events , Satco Logging Equipment , O ’ Neal apparel , Ogio , Arai helmets , Metzeler tyres , Muc-Off , Maxi Grip , Maxima Oils and Husqvarna motorcycles .
40 KIWI RIDER