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BRXC Opening round held no surprises.
The opening round of the BRXC was held last weekend at the famous "Pepperwoods" on Terry Hornes property at Ballance, west of Pahiatua. Situated on the northern tip of the Tararua ranges under the wind turbines, the weather could not have been better.
It was no surprise that Pahiatua's Paul Whibley dominated the 2 hour senior event. At the shotgun Lemans start, it looked as though Veteran Chris Smyth or senior rookie Daniel Christie was going to claim the first holeshot of the season. However they ran a little wide and Yamahas Paul Whibley turned his YZ450 on a dime to cut up the inside to claim the "Waitawhiti Perendales" $50 Holeshot award.
Whibley took command of the race completing the first lap with a 1 minute and 10 second lead over Alfredtons Jacob Hyslop. A flat front tyre ended Jacobs race on lap 2, handing the position over to Charles Alabaster. Flat tyres also affected last years BRXC champion, Hugh Lintott from Wellington, dropping him well down the order.
Whibley lead to the chequered flag for outright honours and XC1 class win, with a 6.5 minute margin over Charles Alabaster on his Mabey Motors Husqvarna TC250, ( 1st XC2 class). Hawkes Bays Brad Stoddart(Suzuki RMZ250) rounded out the overall podium and took 2nd in XC2 class.
Nick Longstaff(KTM300XC) from Dannevirke took line honours in the 35-44yr Veteran class, and 10 seconds behind was Martons Andy Galpin(Yamaha WR250) winning the 45yr+ Veteran class.
The Junior race in the morning had dramas right from the start. Ethan Breuer aboard his Honda CRF250 looked like he was going to take the Junior holeshot. Coming out of the first corner with the lead he headed straight for the 3rd corner, missing the holeshot corner all together.
That allowed AFC KTM rider Charlie Richardson(125XC) to snatch the $50 "Waitawhiti Perendales" holeshot award. Breuer was to later receive a 10 second penalty from officials for failing to round the pegs on the second corner. That handed the lead to Richardson who was only trailing by 4 seconds. At the end of one and a half hour race, Charlie won by 35 seconds over Ethan. Martons, James Galpin(Husaberg 125) rounded out the top 3 outright and class positions(JXC1).
Reece Lester was the winner of the JXC2 class, and Ellie Tilson won the Junior Ladies class.
Round 2 of the BRXC Series is set for the 20th of January at Atrig Station, on Weber road, east of Dannevirke. Round 2 is sponsored by Hewitts Motorcycles, Dannevirkes Yamaha and Can-Am dealer.
Round 1 results Junior Overall Senior Overall
