Rotorua Motorcycle Club Inc

Event: Whakatane SummerX
Date: 28th Dec 09
Track: Sandy with a grass section
Class: MX1
Bike: Honda CRF450
Placing: 2nd

It’s always the last big race of the year at SummerX and most of the top riders turn up to the fun sandy Awakaponga track.
Last year I some how did two classes but this year I opted to do MX1.

Qualifying was similiar to some of the English races I have done. Only get a few laps to see the track then straight into qualifying.
I managed to put down the fastest lap and qualify first.

Moto1: I got off the start good but tangled with another rider down the start straight. I managed to keep it on two wheels and duck on the inside and come out 4th. I squared up the next corner and cut on the inside of Suzuki rider Cody Cooper.
I sat in 2nd behind Kawasaki’s Ben Townley until we got to the grass section. I had my lines sorted and railed a nice burn and went around the outside of Townley.
I held the lead for a few laps until Townley passed me back down a big straight. I tried cutting on the inside but stalled the bike. I got the bike going and held 2nd until I made the same mistake and stalled it again a few laps later. It took a little longer to start this time and I lost a few places.
I finished the race in 5th.

Moto 2: I had learnt from the last race and knew what to do. I got a good start but Townley had the holeshot and came out in front. I was in second and had Townley in my sights.
I followed Townley for a lap and when we got to the grass section, I made the pass. I had the lead but Townley was still with me. I managed to pull a small lead and hold it for the rest of the race. I finished 1st.

Moto 3: It was all on. I knew Townley wouldn’t go down without a fight.
I got off the concrete start good and held it all the way into the first turn. I had Townley on the outside of me but I took the berm anyway and got the holeshot. Townley cut on the inside of me on the next corner and made a pass down the next hill. I passed him back through the sawdust section but on the next straight away he got me back. It went on like this for about 3 laps. I was able to make a pass stick and get to the front.
I pulled a few seconds on Townley but made the mistake of backing it off a little. Townley made a big charge on the last two laps and I couldn’t find the speed I had in the first half of the moto. He passed me on the last lap and I had to settle for 2nd.

Overall I had a good fun days racing. I picked up the 450 two weeks earlier and wasn’t sure how I was going to go on the big bike.
I had a 3 week break after the Hamilton SuperX and have been back into off season training for 3 weeks now and everything is going to plan.
My next race is the Woodville NZ GP at the end of January. Planning only to ride the MX2 class but we’ll see how the training goes.

Michael Phillips