Rotorua MX Nats

[clmintie]

I'm going to take the kids down to watch on Sunday, should be an exciting days racing...BUT, I can't find where the track is, anyone able to point me in the right direction? Last time I raced in Rotorua was the '91 or '92 Ladies and Vets next to the golf course (yes, I was old then too....), but I heard that track had closed due to noise...

[Matt Bleck]

It's about 15k's out past the dump on the way to Atamuri, SH30.

[clmintie]

Just got back from the races.... Wot a hell track that must have been to struggle around.... Very high winds and truly bottomless ruts.... Some amazing riding skills on show, but can't have been a lot of fun for the riders (or bike cleaners!)......

[merv]

Jeepers creepers - what a track for Nats.

[DrewBroadley]

Just got back from the races.... Wot a hell track that must have been to struggle around.... Very high winds and truly bottomless ruts.... Some amazing riding skills on show, but can't have been a lot of fun for the riders (or bike cleaners!)......


Or photographers :P

I had a head cold, then that f**king weather hit me on the sunday, everytime i put my water cover on my camera it stopped raining, so I'd hold off a bit longer before ruining my camera, then it stopped. Repeat about 5 times during the day.

The sun was so glary I needed my polarising filter, screw that on.. BYE BYE SUN, then hello rain.. repeat 5 times.

Track (as per Juniors last year) fell to pieces with a bit of rain, I ended up not shooting a few rounds helping riders out the back push out of rutts, holding bikes up as riders get their ribbs checked from falling down rutted hills on their sides. I was quite amazed at the countless riders who's bikes stalled would sit in the middle of the track keeping a yellow out for everyone for about 5 minutes!

Kudos to the riders though, and poor Ryan Marmont, did he feel it more than anyone. Practice went down hard just before the finish and hurting his arm/wrist, then last on the next few races.

I'll put some pics up tonight.

[rijekaz]

Just got back from the races.... Wot a hell track that must have been to struggle around.... Very high winds and truly bottomless ruts.... Some amazing riding skills on show, but can't have been a lot of fun for the riders (or bike cleaners!)......

Wow those are serious ruts, doesn't look like he can see to much out of his googles either.

[Danger]

Would be keen to see more pics of the gnarly track!

[ArcherWC]

I did my first ever national there a few years ago. the temp at the track was -6 when we got there, and they were power harrowing the first corner over and over to try and break through the ice.

It really was a race of attrition, ended up with 20th place overall in support under, which wasnt bad when there were 74 trying to quilify for the national class

[DrewBroadley]

Surprised no one mentioned Ben Townley was there spectating...

[clmintie]

Didn't see Ben spectating, but would have noticed if he had been riding.... :D

I saw you holding the guys bike, his get-off didn't look that bad, over the bars at relatively slow speed, he picked his bike up on his own, then the pain set in..... :doctor: I did notice several broken clutches and motors boiling, some of the 4strokes smelt of expensive hot oil.
I would describe the track as "porridge on top of ice" Hard to even walk on.....

Didn't take many pics, hands were too cold most of the time....

Funny thing is though, the kids had a ball and can't wait to go to another.. :woohoo:

Katherine Prumm autographed the back of Grace's Kawasaki jacket, that made her day... (Grace's, that is.. :Punk: )

[DrewBroadley]

I saw you holding the guys bike, his get-off didn't look that bad, over the bars at relatively slow speed, he picked his bike up on his own, then the pain set in..... :doctor:

Yeh, I was watching then I heard the "F**K my ribs are broken..." through his helmet. Didn't want the hot bike to lie on it side and make it a bitch for the person taking it back to get it kick started.

It was fun to watch, but it sucked if you had a job to do :(

[DrewBroadley]

Kiwibiker exclusive... (haven't even sent these to Motorcycle Trader yet :msn-wink: )

Multiple posts...

[DrewBroadley]

Please respect my copyright, or at least lavish me with compliments when you show your mates :)

[DrewBroadley]

P.s. they are for sale ;)

[vr4king]

Anyone got results?

[DrewBroadley]

Results here: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=259231

[Reckless]

I think my mates Son Jesse Donnelly was 5th overall, with a 5th, 4th,and 6th. In senior 500cc

[ArcherWC]

was a concrete start pad last time i was there. dosnt look like it in the start line pic

[arj127]

i thought it was a pretty cool track, but could feature a few more jumps. It has a really nice loamy soil base similar to Ardmore (hence the deep ruts). Riders of the day in my mind were Hurley, Micheal Phillips did an awesome job, and Rhys Carter was ripping it up. It certainly would have been a difficult track for the riders, but was great to watch (if you weren't standing in the howling wind). I saw Hurley find a line on a deeply rutted uphill,which was basically off the track, and Cooper picked it up the next lap around, it took a while for most of the other riders to find it. Katherine Prumm picked it up in her second lap of the next race, which shows she is a quick thinker and is really looking out for the smooth lines.
A great days spectating.