Newman unleashes roar power

Amy NewmanKerikeri's Amy Newman has always looked up to her big brother, Sam, so when  he and his mates started racing trail bikes, so did  she.
Nowadays Sam, 18, no longer competes, but Amy has come into her own in the sport, and on Saturday, was the first junior woman to finish in round two of the Northern Experience Cross Country event at Hikurangi.
Riders had to see how many laps  they could complete in the 90-minute race and the  one who completed the most, won.
Newman was fourth overall in the junior race on her 125cc trail bike.
When asked what she loved most about racing trail bikes, she said, with a cheeky grin, "it's fun beating the boys".
The 16-year-old grew up riding farm bikes with her brother and father Rob - who  raced on Saturday in the senior division - on her parents' property in Kerikeri, and started competing in motocross and various events four years ago.
At last month's Northland Secondary Sports Awards, the Kerikeri High School student won the girls' motocross award, while  schoolmate Hayden Crabb took  the boys' award for the sport.
Newman was one of five girls at Saturday's Northern Experience, which attracted 70 riders overall.
"It's just started to become really popular among the girls. Everyone is up against each other - you race against the boys, who can be pretty competitive. It's a fun sport," she said.
Newman has contemplated taking her racing further.
"My dad has encouraged me to go to nationals, but I'm pretty nervous about racing the big guns with all the sponsors and everything. I will see," she said.
Meanwhile, Rawene rider Cassidy Nield was second in the Northern Experience round-two junior women's division, while Raglan rider Brandon Given took out the junior boys', ahead of Jason Dickey, also from Raglan.
Mitchell Nield won the two-hour senior race in front of brother Damon, and Kaiwaka's Kelvin Platt.
Organiser Kiri Nield said the second round of the inaugural event went successfully, with an increase in riders from round one at Mangawhai this month.
The third and final Northern Experience event  will be on December 19, at The Farm, signposted from Whakapara SH1.
On December 20, also at The Farm, a non-competitive monster trail ride will be held.  For more information, see www.onlinemotorcycles.co.nz