May Brings Overseas Experience into Play 7 Apr 2016
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
- Wyatt claims title Sport
May Brings Overseas Experience into Play
APRIL 7, 2016: Two seasons of racing in the United States have served to sharpen and hone the dirt bike riding skills of Auckland's Callan May.
And so the Yamaha ace from Titirangi is in a confident mood as he heads off to race at a steep and rocky round three of the New Zealand Enduro Championships near Porirua this weekend.
The five-round national series kicked off near Christchurch over the Easter Weekend with May bringing his Yamaha YZ250X across the line in fifth place overall. The second round followed just two days later, on Easter Monday, and this time May was credited with finishing fourth overall.
This puts him in a solid position near the top of the standings as he prepares for the first of three North Island rounds in the Akatarawa Forest, up the rugged Moonshine Valley, about halfway between Upper Hutt and Porirua, on Saturday.
Christchurch's Hamish Macdonald and Taupo's Brad Groombridge shared the wins at the two South Island rounds, with Howick's Liam Draper finishing third overall at both events, but May too is in the hunt for the overall crown and also in line for the outright win in the battle for separate over-200cc two-stroke class honours.
"To be honest, I was not really happy with finishing fourth and fifth at the first two rounds," said the 23-year-old May. "I always go out there to win, but there wasn't much between the top five riders, perhaps 20 seconds in it at the end of the day, so the racing has been extremely tight and I like that.
"I've raced at Moonshine once before and it is not the sort of terrain I've been used to, more rocks and less sand than I'd like, but I have raced a lot of the time on rocks in American over the past two seasons, so I'm more used to it now and have the skills required."
Others to watch out for this weekend include eight-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker, of Wainuiomata, former national enduro champion and multi-time former cross-country champion Adrian Smith, from Mokau, and expert over-300cc four-stroke class leader Chris Power, from Hamilton. Helensville's Tom Buxton has been untouchable in the expert under-200cc two-stroke class, although rival Jake Wightman, from Auckland, will keep him honest.
Saturday's event kicks off at about 10am, with classes to cater for expert and intermediate riders, as well as separate categories for veterans and women too.
Following racing this weekend, the national series continues with round four at Waimiha on June 4 and, finally, it all wraps up near Tokoroa on June 5.
May also finished third overall at round two of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships near Mosgiel last weekend. He wasn't able to race at round one of that series but, with points from only three of the four rounds to be counted, he still has a good chance of winning.
May is supported by Yamaha-Motor New Zealand, Graphic Creation, Dunlop, Moose Racing, EKS Brand goggles, Forma boots, Muck-off, Construct Now, City Electrix, BikesportNZ.com and Kiwi Rider magazine.
by Andy McGechan,
www.BikesportNZ.com
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more