Wilkins
stockmen shock. (update 3)
Smith leads Wilkins but not for long.
Wilkins was the fastest man all day on a standard wheeled
RMZ450.
Photo: Alan Henderson
Brown still
the master. Motocrossers continue to show class.
Paul Brown took 3 from 3 in the first round
of the latest Supermoto series but it was the performances
in the new 450 S2 and stock classes that were raising eyebrows.
Pukekohe shop staff take stockmen
mortage.
Mr
Motorcycles staff members have been showing for a few
years that motocrossers
can adapt
quickly
to the
supermoto arena. Of late the Pukekohe store staff seem
to be have put a mortage on the stockmen class.
Director Scott Wilkins showed class a few
years back
in his
first supermoto outing when he placed third in the BikeMart
2003 stock class on a RM250. Wilkins finished behind standout
performers Mark Whyte and Russell Josiah, both of whom
were on 400 plus cc fourstokes at the time.
Since then young parts man Kyle Smith has shown
an impressive turn of speed on his infrequent outings. When
Smith was there it seemed no one but no one could beat the
lad on a stock wheeled bike.
Of late, yes you guested
it, fellow staffers, James Sutherland and
Nick
Fowlie
also
turned
their
hands
to the
dark side
(I mean tarmac, sorry must be all that Star Wars hype that
is doing the rounds) along with director Craig Brown. Brown
at best was able to grab a solitary win off of
Smith.
Perhaps taking note of Whyte and Josiah's example,
Wilkins grabbed a 450 4 stroke (RMZ) and along with Smith
and Sutherland entered the stockmans class on the weekend
and
managed to
finally show Smith who was boss. Wilkins won all threee of
the days races.
Wilkins efforts were of particular note as
his times were comparable to those posted by fellow motocrosser,
Blake Gillard, who was winning races in the
S2 class.
Gillard won the first 2 races and missed the
last race on his KTM450 which left the days overall win to
the impressivly ridden CR250 of Kendrick Younger. Gillard
you
may remember
won a round of the Supermoto nationals on a stock KTM525
and at this wet round at least Wilkins was able to run similar
times on a stock wheeled machine!!
Perhaps Wilkins was just trying to reestablish
the Mr Motorcycles hierachy but as he and motocrossers seem
to continually show. Supermoto can open a door to talents
they may have that transfer better to the darker side of
motorcycle sport.
National Stockman Champion Dave Achison was
close behind the Pukekohe crew on his YZ250F so they won't
be able to rest on any laurels for the upcoming rounds.
Supermotard NZ was not paid in any way by the
good people at Mr Motorcycles for the above report. Nor do
we receive any gain from the sale of the minimumal equipment
required to have you riding in the very next Supermoto meeting
next month.
BUT we're working on it.
For as little as $490 you can fit your dirt
bike out for Supermoto. Give the guys a call on 09 238 3176
See Mylaps for race results. See New Zealand.
Check out all
the top racers who have been doing a bit of Supermoto.
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