Dirt Guide Series Reaches Climax

Dirt Guide Series Reaches Climax

Andy McGechan

JUNE 27, 2012: Auckland’s Mike Skinner probably feels as if he has a target on his back.

The third and final round of this season’s Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships is set for this weekend with Skinner the favourite to win the crown.

But what is not so certain is which individual will actually win the day at this final round at The Pylons, near Atiamuri, on Saturday with different winners at both earlier rounds and plenty of other talented riders also pushing hard.

Skinner know he has a battle on his hands to fend off round one winner Chris Power, of Auckland, as the pair hunt for expert grade honours.

Skinner leads Power by just four points heading into this weekend and, with 25 points for a win, the glory could go anywhere.

In equal third spot after two rounds are Te Awamutu’s Kevin Archer and Auckland’s Jonathan Hill, just 12 points behind Power.

Mokau’s Adrian Smith, who won round two, and Power’s cousin, fellow Aucklander Karl Power, also loom as likely winners on Saturday.

In the intermediate grade, Putaruru’s Phil Skinner and Reporoa’s Kane Stow are tied on points for the overall victory. Bennydale’s Duncan McLaren and Mangakino’s Ben Gordon are also within strike range for the intermediate title.

The Kiwi Rider magazine-backed series typically attracts many of the top national championship contenders, and organiser Sean Clarke expects leading national enduro and cross-country riders such as Aucklanders Sam Greenslade and Callan May, Palmerston North’s Adam Reeves and Hamilton’s Sam Brown will make the journey.

The Pylons course is set out at Tirohanga Road, just one kilometre from State Highway 1 at Atiamuri.

As well as a two-hour race for the country’s senior elite, classes have been provided for the country’s younger riders.

The junior classes are for children aged between six and 10 years and they will use a separate track from the juniors – the two classes will be 6-10 years motocross and 6-10 years trail bikes. The junior race is 75 minutes in duration.

The cross-country series is run parallel with but separate to the Dirt Guide Trail Ride Series, with that phase of the weekend’s action set for the same venue following day.

The trail rides have also proven to be popular events with hundreds of riders taking the opportunity to tackle the trails traversed by the professionals just 24 hours earlier.
ends

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