Dickey and Kelly Could Be the Men to Watch
by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
March 3, 2014
The Kawasaki men have a point to prove at the fourth and final round of the Bel Ray Cross-country Championships in the
North Waikato region this weekend.
Raglan’s Jason Dickey finished runner-up to national cross-country champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha YZ250), of Mokau, at
rounds one, two and three, but momentum probably favours the KX250F rider for the final round at Glen Murray, in the
North Waikato, this Sunday.
Dickey finished runner-up to South Island rider Ethan Bruce (Yamaha YZ250) at the first round of the New Zealand
Cross-country Champions in Taranaki last month but, significantly, he ended the day ahead of arch rival Smith on that
occasion.
Smith injured himself while racing at the parallel but separate New Zealand Enduro Championships just over a week ago
and that may hand a significant advantage to Dickey as the riders line up for the challenge of the Bel Ray series finale
on Sunday.
With points from only three of the four rounds to be counted – riders to discard their worst result – Smith has
therefore already won the Bel Ray series, but that won’t stop Dickey from charging hard for the round win on Sunday and
the bragging rights that go with it.
It is a similar story in the junior grade where Te Kuiti’s Sean Kelly (Kawasaki KX125) has already locked up the trophy,
his 1-2-1 results thus far giving him an unbeatable lead.
Kelly has nothing to prove on Sunday but he will also be keen to finish the series on a winning note and, like fellow
Kawasaki ace Dickey, build a winning momentum ahead of round two of the national cross-country championships, set for
Huntly the following weekend (on Saturday, March 15).
Expect Taupiri’s Andrew Barr (KTM), Auckland’s Jake Wightman (KTM) and Pukekawa’s Isaac Clark (KTM) to apply pressure on
Kelly on Sunday.
The Bel-Ray cross-country series has for long been a popular event with New Zealand riders, the course generally
featuring safe and free-flowing trails.
A wide range of classes are catered for and this allows competitors to make their way up through the grades as their
riding improves, with a good chance of collecting a prize or two along the way.
The experts’ class has always attracted New Zealand's top talent with many Kiwi internationals competing while at home
during their international off-season.
ENDS