Rotorua's Keegan Wright in action during the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge. Photo/Fraser Britton
Rotorua's Keegan Wright in action during the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge. Photo/Fraser Britton
Rotorua's Keegan Wright is well and truly in the mix for the King of Crankworx crown after a colossal win on home turf.
Wright, 20, powered through to win the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by Rockshox against the undefeated Pump Track World Champion - France's Adrien Loron in front of a screaming crowd on Thursday night.
"You can't beat that feeling," Wright said. "I was given a huge lift from the home crowd and just went out and tried to have fun - to come out with the win, well it's unreal."
Surprisingly, shortly before he took the coveted prize the usually easygoing Wright was a "twitchy mess", according to Crankworx Rotorua event director Tak Mutu.
"Sitting on the startline he was twitchy and looked really nervous," said Mutu. "I had a word with him and just said - 'you need to calm down, you've got this'. Anyway, whatever clicked then clicked and it was awesome for everyone in Rotorua to witness what happened next."
Wright added: "It was a massive occasion and I just needed some calming words."
Wright pulled out an exceptional performance as he hammered down the line, time after time, securing the win by pushing hard in the final moments of the last lap.
"I knew he always had the potential to do well. It's massive for Rotorua and in classic Keegan fashion he has a tendency to push himself to 102 per cent and can sometimes push over the limit but he pulled it back right when he needed to."
Rotorua's Keegan Wright. Photo/Fraser Britton
Loron, denied a win in Rotorua for the third year in a row, was disappointed with the result.
"I'm feeling bad because I've never won this one and I thought I did really good," said Loron. "I was doing well until the very last moment, and then I made such a small mistake. I did the biggest part of the job and sometimes it happens. But if it was going to happen, I'm really happy it was Keegan, being the local guy, who took the win."
The win gives Wright a much needed boost for the rest of Crankworx Rotorua - the talented rider will compete in tonight's Speed and Style, tomorrow's Downhill and Slopestyle and Sunday's Air DH.
"I'd like to think I will podium again," Wright said. "I think my best chance to podium will be in the downhill but this year I wanted to give as much as I can a go. The whole vibe of Crankworx and having it in your home town is incredible."
Wright now joins Kawerau rider Matt Walker as firm King of Crankworx contenders. The next festival is in Les Gets, France, followed by Innsbruck, Austria and finally to its Canadian home base in Whistler, British Columbia.
Crankworx will include 23 competitions in six disciplines in the points tally for the title and only requires a rider to achieve the most points of any rider competing in the tour to take victory.
But despite his recent success Wright has his feet firmly on the ground and is taking one race at a time.
"You can't jump too far ahead," Wright said. "I just want to enjoy myself as much as I can here in Rotorua and hopefully this will be a great season starter."
Mutu said with the results so far, everything was finely balanced.
"Matt and Keegan certainly are strong contenders and it's a very interesting mix for the overall crown."
The next round of the Pump Track World Tour Champions will shake out in Les Gets, France this June, but there will be plenty of action to come for Crankworx Rotorua.
The Dual Speed and Style is tonight - 5pm-7.30pm at Skyline, the Slopestyle has been moved to tomorrow - 9am-1pm and the Slopestyle is also tomorrow - 3.30pm-6pm.
Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by Rockshox results:
A complete list of Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by RockShox results can be found on Crankworx.com.
Updated Crankworx schedule:
Saturday
9am-1pm Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle athlete meeting and practice 9.30am Gates open 10am-5pm Kidsworx: Pimp my Ride, Scavenger Hunt, Tamariki Trail 10.30am-12.30pm Kidsworx: Hipster Downhill Race 1-2pm Kidsworx: Pump Track Skills Session 2-3pm Kidsworx: Pumptrack Skills Session 8am-3pm Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS: 8-9am Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS Juniors and Pros Training 9.30-11.30am Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS Junior and Pro Race 12-1pm Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS Amateur Practice 1.30-3pm Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS Amateur Race 3-3.20pm Downhill Prizegiving 3.30-6pm Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle 6-6.30pm Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle Prizegiving
Sunday
10am-4pm Kidsworx: Pimp my Ride, Scavenger Hunt, Tamariki Trail 10.30am-12pmKidsworx: Pump Track Challenge (on the main pump track) 10.30-11.30am Crankworx Rotorua Air Downhill Hot Run 12-1.30pm Crankworx Rotorua Air Downhill non webcast finals 1.30-3.30pm Crankworx Rotorua Air Downhill Webcast Finals
