The 2024 edition of the Un4seen NZ Sprint Series came to its conclusion last weekend on a stunning piece of property just outside of Te Kuiti.
Test one for the senior motorcycle cross-country racers held the most elevation and weaved through rocky outcrops and bush-lined gulleys, a nicely-mown grass track and the C4 rock jump.
Test two, where the juniors and minis started, was rolling grass hills set out like a natural terrain MX. The hills provided several natural jumps, a couple short bush sections and the Rock Gap to navigate.
In the seniors it was Auckland’s Ryan Hayward (pictured above), on his 300cc KTM, who put in the fastest lap of the session, just two seconds faster than Beta rider Brad Groombridge, from Taupo.
These two riders went at it and logged the six fastest laps between them of the session. When each rider’s four fastest laps were totalled, it was Hayward, 11 seconds ahead of Groombridge with Taupo Yamaha rider Wil Yeoman holding down third.
In the afternoon, seniors dropped into Test 2 and the battle continued.
Groombridge this time set the fastest single lap, two seconds quicker than Hayward. But when we stack riders’ four best times, Hayward would come out on top. Helenville’s Tom Buxton stepped up the pace and ended second in this session with Rotorua’s Callum Dudson the third fastest.
So how did this all shake down when both session where combined?
Hayward was super consistent, and super fast, all day and he took the win at Round 3, followed by Groombridge and Buxton.
And the series?
With a solid third at the final to add to winning R1 and R2, Buxton is the 2024 series champ.
Whangaparaoa’s Jacob Refoy came in second with consistent results and Hayward proved he is one to watch, placing third for the season.
In the women’s class, Charlotte Russ couldn’t make the final but was dominant enough in earlier rounds to still take the title. Laura Thomson took the win on the day in outstanding fashion, followed by Rochelle Edwards and Shae Lyons.
In the juniors it was Harrison Findlay who set the pace. In the first session his total times gave him almost 30 seconds lead over PWR Yamaha rider Harvey Williams with Max De Malmandie in third. Once the afternoon session was factored in, Findlay continued his dominant ride to take the win. Bailey Babington popped into second, leap frogging Williams who settled into third for the day.
And with consistent results over the whole season Williams is your 2024 Un4seen NZSS junior champion. De Malmandie was second with Findlay in third.
Onto the mini grade results.
Taikorea’s Colton Whibley was on a mission, posting times that were competitive with the top three junior 85 riders. Convincingly winning the mini grade for the round and with that he wrapped up the mini championship for the season, easily defending his championship from 2023. Leo Gilbert came second for the season and Tanner Wickham, through consistent results, placed third.
Series organiser Paul Whibley said: “It’s been a cracking season with three equally exciting venues.
“Some super fun tracks with a great mixture of terrain to tickle the fancy of every rider. Great to see the growth of the mini class this year. This is the future of our sport, so it’s been promising.
“Huge thanks to the land owners, all those that have helped marshal and run the day and thanks also to John Rushworth from Silverbullet for the scoring solutions.
“Massive thanks to Un4seen for their support and also to all our other great sponsors, MotoSR, Motomuck, C4, Arai, Oneal, Blur, Kenda, Acen, Forma and Yamaha. We couldn’t do it without them. And Thanks for all the positive feedback and support from the riders. This is what keeps us going.”
© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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