By Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
They say it’s harder to defend a title than it is to win it in the first place.
And that may well be the case for Raglan’s Jason Dickey when he begins his New Zealand Cross-country Championship title defence in the Rangitikei region this weekend.
The four-round Yamaha-sponsored 2020 championships kick off on farmland near Marton on Sunday, with Dickey well aware that last season’s runner-up, Whanganui’s Seth Reardon, will be just one of at least a dozen extremely fast rivals determined to take away his No.1 ranking.
The nation’s dirt bike elite will converge on farmland at Smith’s Holly Farm, 235A Galpins Road, RD2, Marton on Sunday (February 16) with all riders knowing a good result is essential if their respective bids for glory are to bear any fruit.
Points from only the best three results from the four rounds will be counted towards the championship titles.
Dickey and Reardon will need to respect the man who was national champion in 2016, 2017 and 2018, Taupo’s Brad Groombridge, who is also among the favourites again this time around.
Manawatu’s former national cross-country champion Paul Whibley is another expected to challenge for the senior title this year, along with the always-fast Brandon Givens, from Raglan, Rotorua’s Ethan Harris, Hamilton’s Andrew Charleston and Hamilton’s Phillip Goodwright.
Te Kauwhata’s Jacob Brown, Pukekawa’s Jim Orton, Toko’s Karl Roberts and Napier’s Mackenzie Wiig could also be battling near the front.
“We have had two former national cross-country champions (Awakino’s Adrian Smith and Marton’s Cam Smith, no relation) marking out the track for us, so it should be an excellent course, ” said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth.
“It might be a little dry and dusty if we don’t get rain before the weekend, but it should be an excellent test for the riders. There is a wide variety of terrain they will cover … from open farmland, to tight native bush sections, gorse and pine trees … a bit of everything really.
“We have a new non-championship class this year too – the Yamaha Cup class for riders aged between 15 and 19 years. This is a development class. This is where the riders of the future may come from,” he said.
The 90-minute junior race kicks off at about 9am on Sunday, with the three-hour senior race to follow at about 11.30am.
The New Zealand Cross-country Championships series is supported by Yamaha NZ, O’Neal apparel, The Dirt Guide, Oakley goggles, Bel Ray oils and Michelin tyres.
2020 NZ Cross-Country Champs
Round One – Sunday, Feb 16 – Bush Riders MCC, Marton
Round Two – Sunday, March 22 – Central Hawke’s Bay MCC, Flemington
Round Three – Sunday, April 26 – Marlborough MCC, Nelson
Round Four – Saturday, May 23 – Taupo MCC, Taupo