Motocross: Rivalry renewed in the forest

Wellington's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna TC250) is turning his moto trials skills into enduro racing success. Photo / BikesportNZ.com

It will be another clash of the titans at the third round of four in the popular Dirt Guide Cross-country Series this weekend.

Wellington Husqvarna TC250 rider Jake Whitaker will likely go up against firebrand Yamaha trio Paul Whibley, Adrian Smith and Adam Reeves on the forestry course at Ohakuri, between Tokoroa and Taupo, on Sunday.

All four riders have enjoyed recent successes and, although they are on friendly terms off the track, it is always going to be fiery when the racing starts.

Seven-time former New Zealand moto trials champion Whitaker won the inaugural Moonshine Run Hard Enduro near Porirua just over a week ago ahead of fellow Kiwi international Whibley (Freedom Moto BikesportNZ.com YZ250). But Whitaker didn't have it go his way at the third round of the inaugural NZXC series in Woodhill Forest last weekend, managing only ninth place overall as Whibley, Smith and Reeves finished 1-2-3 in that order.

"I had a bit of a shocker at Woodhill actually," said Whitaker. "I crashed soon after the start and that knocked the wind out of me. I'm good to go again this weekend though."

The rivalry between Whitaker and Whibley will certainly resume at the Dirt Guide race this weekend, with multi-time national cross-country champions Smith and Reeves also sure to feature.

However, it seems The 37-year-old Whibley has the measure of his rivals in the Dirt Guide series and he is tipped to wrap it up this weekend.

Whibley has now made it back-to-back wins in the Dirt Guide series and, with points from only three of the four rounds to be counted as riders discard their worst result, he is almost unbeatable in that series.

Whibley made it look easy in winning round one of the Dirt Guide series near Tokoroa in June, beating Howick's Liam Draper (Husqvarna TC125) to the finish line, with Whitaker finishing third overall, and then Whibley led Whitaker across the finish line in round two in early August, with Coatesville's Sam Greenslade (Kawasaki KX250F) claiming third place overall.

There is no real pressure on Whibley this weekend, but there is no doubt he will still want to make it a hat-trick of Dirt Guide series wins on Sunday.

Series organiser Sean Clarke said the original venue that had been planned for this round at Atiamuri became unavailable because of logging operations, but the Ohakuri course will still be very fresh to most riders after recent development work there.

Youngsters to watch in the junior race earlier in the day include Te Awamutu's Daniel White (Kawasaki KX125), Oparau's James Scott (Husqvarna TC85), Hamilton's Lachlan Bishop (Yamaha YZ125), Taupo's Will Yeoman (Kawasaki KX85), Oparau's Bree Scott (Kawasaki KX85) and Rotorua's Daniel Bates (Suzuki RM85).

The fourth and final round of the Dirt Guide series is set for a return to Tar Hill, just south of Tokoroa, on October 4.

Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships 2015:

Round one: June 14, Tar Hill, south of Tokoroa
Round two: August 9, Ohakuri, south of Tokoroa
Round three: September 6, Atiamuri (new venue)
Round four: October 4, Tar Hill, south of Tokoroa.