Dirt flies as Hauraki Plains College Motocross Tournament gets underway

The Hauraki Plains College Motocross Tournament shot off to a great start recently with more than 200 school-based riders competing.

No other school runs a tournament such as this with six competitive classes plus a dads and supporters race.

Riders travelled from as far Wairoa, Tauranga and Rotorua to be a part of the event at Slater Motocross Park in Huntly on May 4.

There were 208 entrants this year from 40 different schools around the North Island.

At each event the Hauraki Plains College (HPC) motocross team ride for breast cancer.

Each rider has a pink Mohawk on their helmets and pink writing on the back of their team shirts. They raised $244.10 on the day for the  Breast Cancer Foundation.

Hauraki Plains College Teacher in charge, Amanda Fitzpatrick says the fundraising is an important side to their participation.

“It’s good to see pink, you know, motocross is a very boy dominated sport, and it’s also a great cause.”

The college started with five riders in their team seven years ago and now has 33 competitors, including one girl.

“One of the main reason I do this is to build motocross in schools, certainly at Hauraki Plains College it keeps the boys focused and to do the right thing in class so they are allowed to ride.”

“I’ve changed the classes because I want the beginners to have a really fair go at it and I want the intermediate and pros to go against the same level of experience. I want it fair with no trophy burglars,” Fitzpatrick says.

Top level New Zealand, Australian and English riders and brothers Mike and John Phillips were both at the track on the day helping out.

“It’s good to see these sorts of competitions because it gives a chance for novice riders to get out there and give it a go. My job today is to sweep the track after every race to make sure there is no one hurt or left behind,” says older brother Mike.

‘Two Brothers Coaching’ Mike and John have helped the HPC MotoX team twice to give them advice and new skills.

National motocross commentator Neil Ritchie was the commentator for the day’s events.

Leading national-level rider and HPC motocross captain Kent Morley, 17, said it was good to compete against other schools.

“It’s what we like doing and they are all giving it 100 percent. Plus there is a good turnout, there are heaps of people.”

The event was staged at Huntly to make the competition as fair as possible, as Patetonga is HPC’s home turf.

“I like everything to be fair, also it gets the kids out of the clay, and onto dirt, which is easier for the beginners” Kent says.

Round Two of the Hauraki Plains College Motocross Tournament will be held on the Patetonga peat in October.

All times and results can be viewed on the website www.mylaps.com

Beginners –

85cc Class:
1st – Daniel Curtis (No.301) – Hamilton Boys
2nd – Todd Collins (No.71) – Waiuku College
3rd – Taylor Peach (No.113) – HPC

125cc & 250cc Class:
1st: Kieran Rooney (No.159) – Putaruru College
2nd: Dylan Martinovich (No.243) – HPC
3rd: Danyon Aarts (No.647) –

Intermediates –

85cc & 150cc Class:
1st: Jayden Evans (No.166) – Waiuku College
2nd: Connor Hill (No.685) – Wairoa College
3rd: David Bashford (No.77) – Te Kauwhata

125cc Class:
1st: Adam Curran (No.444) – Matamata College
2nd: Zach Walling (No.111) – St Paul’s Collegiate
3rd: Jake McNabb (No.33) – Matamata College

250cc Class:
1st: Reed Van de Laar (No.402) – Tauranga Boys
2nd: Brad Webb (No.17) – Cambridge High
3rd: Clayton Smith (No.73) – Morrinsville College

Pros –

85cc Class:
1st: Josiah Natzke (No.342) – Hamilton Boys
2nd: Aaron Manning (No.16) – St John’s College
3rd: Jacob Van der Lee (No.77) – St John’s College

125cc Class:
1st: Jacob Natzke (No.342) –
2nd: Issac Moore (No.818) – Fraser High
3rd: Dane Russell (No.122) – Hamilton Boys

250cc Class:
1st: Ayden Dunn (No.314) – Hamilton Boys
2nd: Lucas Smyllie (No.16) – HPC
3rd: Cam McCaskie (No.445) – Otumoetai College

Top 5 Girls –
1st: Chelsea Trueman (No.23) – Tauranga Girls
2nd: Alivia Singer (No.788) – HPC
3rd: Christina Cameron (No.91) – Otumoetai College
4th: Anna Lawton (No.200) – Kaipara College
5th: Tyla Cushion (No.106) –

Top 3 Schools –
1st: Hamilton Boys High
2nd: Hauraki Plains
3rd: Matamata College