NZ Insider No.48: Murray Bridge

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the NZ Insider, penned by Chris Ritchie.

The Kiwi contingent across the ditch moved to Murray Bridge in South Australia for the fourth round of the MX Nationals. After an up and down start to the season, it was an opportunity to improve as the series progresses. In MX2, with Raceline Suzuki’s Rhys Carter ruled out due to injury, KTM’s Hamish Harwood is the lone Kiwi remaining in the quarter-litre class. After qualifying 14^th in a stacked MX2 field, Harwood rode to an uncharacteristic 15-17 for 14^th Overall.

In the premier MX1 class, Penrite Honda’s Cody Cooper qualified a strong third behind Kirk Gibbs and Kade Mosig – two riders he battled with only a few months earlier for the NZ MX1 title. Coops opened his day with seventh in moto one, followed by a DNF in moto two after only two laps, ending 19^th for the day.

NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s John Phillips was thwarted by a broken rear brake pedal in moto one, managing to salvage 24^th, and then came back to claim ninth in the second and final moto for 15^th Overall.

In the MXD (Under 19s) class, KTM’s Joel Meikle qualified seventh but was unable to take part in the day’s motos.

Our KTM Factory Junior star, Josiah Natzke, went 2-4 for third Overall at the Dutch Championship at Rhenen behind teammates, Jorge Prado Garcia and Conrad Mewse, as he builds up for the upcoming round of the EMX125 European Championship at Matterley Basin in the south of England this coming weekend, in conjunction with the seventh round of the MXGP series.

Off-road legend, Paul Whibley, edged out Yamaha teammate, Adrian Smith, to claim the Outright New Zealand Cross Country title near Pahiatua over the weekend. The pair traded wins battling all season long, and the title fight came down to the final event to decide the 2015 championship. Unfortunately for Smith, a mechanical failure on lap two ruled him out of contention, effectively handing the title to The Axeman who holeshotted the race and after dropping back during the mid part, stormed back to the lead and claimed the Overall win.

After spending considerable time competing on the GNCC circuit in the States, it was a welcome return to the winners’ circle back home for Whibley with the last time his name appeared on the NZ XC trophy being back in 2002!