Top right : Waipukurau ’ s Stephen Sergeant ( Kawasaki No . 51 ) throws a dust bomb at Hamilton ’ s Seton Head ( Kawasaki No . 66 ) during the senior race at Marton Bottom left : Te Awamutu ’ s Jack Carmichael ( Husqvarna No . 400 ) in traffic soon after the start of the junior race at Marton
national series steward ) Lauren Stockley we got it all organised and we were only half an hour late getting started . As for the racing , this track was probably a bit more demanding for the junior riders than is generally the case , but this is meant to be a test for them . It wasn ’ t impossible for them anywhere .”
JUNIORS Taupo ’ s Wil Yeoman led from start to finish to dominate the 90-minute junior grade race overall ( and in his premier up-to-300cc four-stroke class ) in the morning , crossing the finish line half a minute ahead of runner-up rider Luke Brown , from Eketahuna . Third overall was Dannevirke ’ s Charlie Free , finishing more than two minutes further back . Rotorua ’ s Daniel Bates was fourth overall and was best of the junior up to 200cc two-stroke class riders , while Masterton ’ s Max Williams ( eighth overall ) claimed the 85cc junior class win .
SENIORS The three-hour senior race in the afternoon was less cut-and-dried . Taupo ’ s Wyatt Chase led from the start but he soon had Napier-based former Wairoa rider Tommy Watts nipping at his rear wheel . Watts took the lead on lap two ( of seven ) and never looked back , while behind him it was fierce battle for the top spots between Chase , another Napierbased former Wairoa rider in the shape of Reece Lister , Raglan ’ s Brandon Given , Hamilton ’ s Sam “ Charlie ” Brown and a hard-charging Paul Whibley . Palmerston North ’ s Whibley had been trapped in traffic at the start but was quickly moving forward from the back of the pack and , by the halfway stage of the race , he was up to fifth . It ended up with Watts taking the outright win by just 20 seconds from Whibley , with Lister claiming the third podium spot , crossing the line three minutes later . “ I had a terrible start and it was so dusty
28 KIWI RIDER