WORDS & PHOTOS:
Andy McGechan, bikesportnz.com
2018 New Zealand
Moto Trials Championships
AUSSIES TAKE NARROW
WIN OVER THE KIWIS
t was Trans-Tasman rivalry at its best over
Labour Weekend in October as the moto
trials top guns from Australia and New
Zealand locked horns in Canterbury.
The 2018 FIM Oceania Trials Championships
were run in conjunction with the New
Zealand Moto Trials Championships near
Christchurch over the Saturday, Sunday and
Monday of Labour Weekend and provided epic
international entertainment for fans of this
unique motorcycling sports code.
This added significance of the event carrying
FIM Oceania status meant there was plenty
riding on every “foot dab” that a rider made, with
the aim of the sport being to traverse di cult
terrain on the motorcycle, without touching the
ground with his or her feet, stalling the bike’s
engine or otherwise failing to complete the set
course.
With this branch of motorcycling the emphasis
is not on speed, but on fine balance, bravery
and throttle control, with sharp rocks, slippery
tree roots, treacherous creek beds and steep
hills mere judder bars on the path for these bike
riders.
Australian visitor Kevin Zarcynski won the
New Zealand Experts Grade title, out-scoring
Christchurch’s Jules Huguenin, Taranaki’s Matt
Foster and Wellington’s 14-year-old rising star
Dylan Ball.
And, in the battle for the 2018 FIM Oceania
Challenge trophy, it was the three nominated
Australian riders – Zarcynski, Tom Woodhouse
and Sarah Chivers – who prevailed.
The battle was close and the three New Zealand
representatives for the Oceania Challenge
– Huguenin, Taranaki’s Daniel Herbert and
Hunterville’s Hannah Rushworth – fell just one
point short of their Australian rivals.
New Zealand won the FIM Oceania Trial
Championship Cup and Shield when this
competition was held in the Barossa Valley, near
Adelaide, last year.
“This year was a fantastic opportunity to come
to New Zealand and compete on foreign soil for
a change,” said Zarcynski.
“It was a chance to start a foundation for some
competition between these two countries.”
Motorcycling New Zealand moto trials
commissioner Sandra Hallie said the event was
well-contested in all classes at three different
venues, in and around Banks Peninsula.
The Australian team took out the first day,
but the New Zealand team managed to claw
their way back into contention on day two, so
scores were even. It was the winner of the third
and final day that would decide the 2018 FIM
Oceania Trials Championship.
“With Kevin Zarczynski losing only four points
on the third lap, defending champions New
Zealand faced defeat and the Australians took
home the silverware for this year.
“The battle resumes next year in Tasmania.”
The other national title winners were Ashhurst’s
Kevin Pinfold (Intermediate Grade); Rushworth
(Women’s Grade); Ball (Junior Grade); Northcote’s
Ray Skinner (Presidents’ Grade); Blenheim’s Liam
Falconer (Clubman’s Grade) and Tasmania’s Kurt
Pickering (Twin Shock Class).
KIWI RIDER 77