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Photo - Kawasaki's Michael Phillips at the recent Trentham MX:
KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN - Press Release:
This year’s event held again on the Taihape Road, was won by the Honda pairing of Cody Cooper and Corrie Sargent.
However, when the gun went off for the start of the Hawkes Bay 6-Hour Challenge, who took the hole-shot, none other than Norsewood’s Kevin Hermason on board Craig Brown’s (Pukekohe) Mr Motorcycles’ KX125.
The team ran with the front runners of this star-studded field, until they developed a crack in their expansion chamber, losing them valuable horsepower.
Valiant attempts were made to repair the problem, but eventually the pipe needed to be replaced. Speedy pit work reduced the duo’s loss of placings and they then battled on to finish 8th overall and 1st in the 0-200cc two-stroke class.
The pairing of Rotorua’s Michael Phillips and Whakatane’s Joel Burns proved that a combination of sensible riding and having some fun can pay off. They started well, maintained a top four position all day on Phillips’ Patterson and O’Conner backed KX250-M, giving them 4th overall and 2nd in the 201cc & Over two stroke class.
Hamilton’s Todd Mardon and Pukekohe’s Kyle Smith also started well on Kyle's Mr Motorcycles’ KX250-M, even with Mardon taking a little while to come to grips with the bigger bike, the youth pairing maintained good lap time. Smith not wanting to risk injury, pushed hard but not too hard and the pair came home with an 18th overall and 6th in the 201cc & Over two stroke class.
Pukekohe’s Scotty Wilkins and Ben Gage-Brown maintained similar lap times on Ben’s KX250-F and their pre race fitness work paid off, rewarding them with a 15th in the 0-300 four stroke class. Not a bad effort for two guys that don't get to do a lot of racing these days, due to their work commitments.
The word is they are going into full-on training, to enable them to kick some arse next year, both on and off the track.
Bay City Motorcycles, better known for their Road Race teams, hit pay dirt first time out with their new Endurance Team of Tauranga’s Anton Giacon and Ben Thomason. Thomason was very fast and rode two laps to Giason’s one, bring their trusty KDX200 home 3rd in the 0-200cc two-stroke class.
