2007 New Zealand Championship

WHITAKER CRACKS THE BIG TIME

Wellington's Jake Whitaker, the new National Champion at age 16, beat the best of the best and the nastiest of stomach bugs too, when he wrapped up his first New Zealand Motorcycle Trials Championship title over Labour Weekend.The 16-year-old superstar-in-the-making finally cracked the big time, when he beat his long-time rival, mentor and friend Warren Laugesen at the three-day National Championship event in Hawke's Bay. He didn't have it all his own way however, and was locked in a see-saw battle with Levin legend and national No.1 Laugesen throughout the long weekend."Day one (on Saturday) was a course along a slippery creek bed," said Whitaker. "It was weird, because I usually struggle in those conditions and I'm usually putting my feet down a lot. But I managed to hold it all together and win the day."Day two was tough for me because it featured a really steep hill and I was only on a Gas Gas 125 and the other riders were on bigger bikes. I couldn't get enough drive to crest the top of the hill." Laugesen won day two and this set the event up for a classic final, winner-takes-all confrontation on the Monday. But Whitaker was sublime on the wind-lashed steep face of Havelock North's Te Mata Peak and edged Laugesen for the title. In addition to beating Laugesen, the seven-time former and defending national champion, Whitaker also had to contend with six-time former national champion Andrew Poad (Tauranga), South Island expert grade champion Jason Baker, Hastings ace Luke March and Taranaki's Wayne Thompson. Whitaker also had to survive a dose of food poisoning to claim the crown. "I ate a chicken burger on Sunday night and that didn't agree with me," said Whitaker. "It took me a while to come right on the third day of competition (Monday). I wasn't good on the first lap but it all came together later on. "It's taken me a long time and a lot of hard work to beat Warren. It hasn't come easily but I finally got there and it's a pretty good feeling." In addition to winning the Expert Class trophy and New Zealand title overall, Whitaker led the North Island team to victory over the South Island in the traditional inter-island clash that dates back to 1922. Magnanimous in defeat, Laugesen said he was proud of what his young protégé had achieved. "He was under a lot of pressure but he responded well. He really deserved it. It will be a great confidence boost for him for heading overseas next year," said Laugesen.The A grade produced another great clash between Nelson's Nick Oliver and Whitby's Rory Mead, with the lead changing from day one to day two and everything hung on the third day.When Oliver's bike had a slight mechanical problem, it looked as though it was all over for him, but he managed to repair it and get the 40 sections completed on time and he secured the title, with Ashhurst veteran Kevin Pinfold taking the third spot.Footnote: Congratulations to all three Pioneer Club members that attended the NZ Nationals over Labour Weekend, I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves and well done. ~ Prez

NZ National Trial Champs Overall

Expert A
1^st	Jake Whitaker	72
2^nd	Warren Laugesen	69
3^rd	Andrew Poad	58
4^th	Jason Baker	56
5^th	Luke March	48
6^th	Wayne Thompson	30

A Grade
1^st	Nick Oliver	72
2^nd	Rory Mead	69
3^rd	Kevin Pinfold	58
4^th	Carl Robson	54
5^th	Phil Shilton	45
6^th	Chris Burch	34
7^th	Bryden Byers	30

Intermediates
1^st	Kevin Gundry	65
2^nd	Peter Boettcher	60
3^rd	Mathew Kershaw	59
4^th	Craig Thompson	58
5^th	Alastair Neville	42
6^th	James Snowden	41
7^th	Nick Ball	36
8^th	Sam Kershaw	36
9^th	Shane Brons	34
10^th	John Lawton	31
11^th	Ian Braithwaite	28
12^th	Rob Howard	27
13^th	Mark Ferguson	26
14^th	Peter van Dingenen	26
15^th	Warrick Merriman	23
16^th	Brendon Wadsworth	19
17^th	Kevin Tither	19
18^th	Colin Downs	15
19^th	Bob Wade	6
20^th	Sean Mead	4
21^st	Nick Hamilton	3
22^nd	Alister King	2

Clubman
1^st	Robert McEwen	68
2^nd	Darren Stockman	66
3^rd	Rick Mead	63
4^th	Gavin Fox	51
5^th	Colin Godsell	49
6^th	Guyan Bennett	47
7^th	Steve Armistead	46
8^th	Clive Harmen	36
9^th	Murray Black	33
10^th	Peter Ladyman	31
11^th	Francis Sydenham	30
12^th	James Killalea	28
13^th	Pete Hayes	23
14^th	Clarke Curtis	14

Junior
1^st	Jim Pattie	75
2^nd	Rob Turney	62
3^rd	Blake Fox	57
4^th	John Hayes	52
5^th	Robert Williamson	52
6^th	Callum Anderson	47
7^th	Stefan van Workum	45

Presidents
1^st	Paul McLeod	68
2^nd	Gary Samson	62
3^rd	Ross Bristol	56
4^th	Nigel Shilton	53
5^th	Steve Wade	53
6^th	Jon Turney	48
7^th	Jim Henderson	46
8^th	Jamie Mead	40
9^th	Peter Orsborne	39
10^th	Stephen Neville	22

Social
1^st	Todd Alexander	72
2^nd	Mie Gundry	69
3^rd	Josh Jeffery	60

2007 New Zealand Championship