New Zealand Trials News

Jake Whitaker reports on a successful Australian Championship assault.

Jake riding high

Arrived home last night after a successful trip to Aussie. The Australian titles were held just out of Brisbane at Thunderbird Park on the 21st and 22nd August.

On the Friday before the event in the practise area I was feeling good about the weekend as it was almost exactly the same as the training area I have been spending a lot of time at.

Very slippery river beds and rocks in and out of the rivers. A very different style of riding as I find the best way is just to keep flowing on this sort of terrain instead of lots of stopping and starting. The less hopping you do the better and wheel placements are so critical with absolutely no room for error.

Saturday Morning I felt awesome, ready to ride and to let all the hard work that has been put into my riding over the last year pay itself off. My first lap was average and I was currently sitting in 3rd place,I didn't put it down to nerves as I wasn't feeling an awful amount, instead I felt I just hadn't warmed up and found that rhythm yet. However I definitely rode a lot stronger in the second lap and managed to claim the lead over the weekend to win the first day.

Jake out classsed the competition

Everything was in place leading into Sunday, Currently leading, Great bike, Awesome team, felt like I hadnt even been on the bike for a full day the day before, my fitness was good. I was able to completely block out the previous day which was necessary as the points were close and any pressure could have led to some mistakes. I rode my own event all day competing only against myself, forgetting about any other rider and what they may be doing differently. I was so in the zone and comfortable that I felt like I was just out training like any other weekend.

It was awesome to be able to do that and was the first time ever that I have experienced that feeling. I made one big mistake on Sunday giving me 5 points on my card for timing out on section 9 on my second lap by a split second. I finished the rest of the lap off faultless to section 15. At this point in time I had not seen or heard anything about the scores on the first lap. I knew that I rode my best riding back to the pits and that I was definitely in the running for the title.

Jake looks at home on the rocky terrain

To look up at the score board to see my first lap of four points and my overall lead of 22points ahead of second place was a feeling and a moment that I wont ever forget.

Winning the Australian title means a lot to me and something that I am extremely proud of. I have worked really hard for it over these past few years and to finally win it makes all the hard work worth it.

I couldn't have done it without such a great team behind me, So a massive thanks to Team Kaos Darryl and Estelle Boorer, My Minder Nick Ball as always awesome effort, My Mum and Dad For all the support and for believing in me along with my Girlfriend Georgina. Darren and Annette Stockman for all their encouragement and help over the two days. Karl Clark unable to finish the weekend after an extremely unlucky problem occurred and made any hope of a good result impossible, I feel for ya mate and wish things could have worked out differently for you, However Thanks for the words of encouragement and following me around on my final lap on Sunday.

On the 28th I competed in my first ever Arena trial on the Gold coast, The 2010 Queensland Invitational Arena Moto-Trials Championships. This was a really cool event with some big spectacular sections. My biggest competition was Kyle Middleton one of Aussies best riders. We were neck and neck all day with only ever a couple of points separating us, swapping over the lead back and forth. I won all the race sections of the event against Kyle but he got me near the end of the day. There was a misunderstanding with the timing of the sections and I timed out after a really good clean ride. Kyle was riding well and I am happy for him to take the win. Well done mate, See you in a few weeks time for the next NSW round.

A big thanks to my sponsors, Team Kaos, Spectro oils, Pro grip,DID chains, NGK, Hutt boyz choppers, Hynes pipes, John and Rebecca Lawton at Kapiti Beta.

Thanks guys, could not do it without you all.

Jake

Yoshikazu and his wife Tomoko Hirata at this years Ihatove event.

Tomoko Hirata: Famous in NZ?
Posted by: Manzawa

I was surprised to discover that the woman who is shown splashing through the creek on the NonStop Adventure poster was riding in the Classis class at the Idemitsu Ihatove this year! Tomoko Hirata introduced herself to me on the beach at the end of the trial and mentioned, "actually, that was me in the photo". After riding at NonStop, Tomoko and her husband Yoshikazu took part in an enduro bike tour, enjoying the perfect motorcycling holiday in NZ. I'm glad they were able to create such great memories.

The 34th Idemitsu Ihatove Trial finished up without a hitch on August 29, and the riders in Iwate enjoyed perfect weather for their highly successful event. Congratulations to the organizing team - running an event with hundreds of entrants and a course spanning hundreds of kilometers is no mean feat.

Fun in the rain at the N/S Trials Park

Unfortunately the weather was not so warm here in the Southern hemisphere, but that didn't stop a few hardy riders from braving the odd shower to get out on their bikes at the NonStop Adventure trials park. Paul Dowell and Tony Cameron topped the bill for energy and enthusiasm, turning up early and riding full-on all day. They were joined in the afternoon by Stephen and Nick Oliver and David Atwool, and everyone relished to chance to polish up skills and have some fun in a laid-back atmosphere.

The Ihatove is over for another year in Iwate, but the NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial is now less than six months away, and we look forward to welcoming some of our Japanese friends when summer returns to Nelson!

Takumi and Rumi give the new Randoner the thumbs up.

We received an email from our very good friend Youji Ishiyama immediately at the completion of the Japanese Ihatove event.

Ishi mentioned that everyone had all finished their Ihatove event with big smiles.

Ishi also wished to thank us for our cheering and support.
He mentioned that he would send a more detailed report soon but included a great shot of Takumi and Rumi along side the brand new GasGas Randoner.

Ishi has been to New Zealand on two occasions once with his sons to visit the NonStop Team and secondly to ride this years NZ Ihatove event.

Ishi has been part of the management team for many years and is known as Yasuo's right hand man.

Deborah made a life time friend of Ishi when we visited back in 2006 as they rode together all day and he ran beside her while she rode the sections looking out for her well being. He just a really neat guy.

Ishi with his team of keen helpers

On schedule and looking set to go is the report from our friends in Japan as they put the finishing touches to the 2010 34th Idemitsu Ihatove Trial.

Father Shozo with his boys Takumi and Ryo

The skies are blue and the weather forecast is looking good for the coming two days.

Participants setting up camp for the weekend

Participants are arriving and the numbers building quickly, many setting up camp at the start/finish site where they will be happy campers for the next couple of days.

The Narita trio have arrived with Father Shozo accompanying his two sons Takumi and Ryo.

Yasuo is very busy at this time , he has many tasks including greeting guests, taking photos and updating the web site. We are all very fortunate that he is so capable and full of passion and enthusiasm; this is what makes this event so successful.

His right hand man Ishi also shares these attributes and is another great team leader we has posted a photo of him and some of the team member with this article posing for the camera on the start/finish podium.

This atmosphere is fantastic at this time as everyone is excited and full with the anticipation and keenness for tomorrow's adventure.

Back in 1973 Yasuo and Shozo rode TL125s in the Scottish Six Day, having faced all the challenges of that event and experienced Scotland's spectacular scenery; they decided to hold a trial in Japan to give the local riders a taste of Scottish -style riding.

Nowadays the Japanese Idemitsu Ihatove event attracts around 600 entrants each year, ranging from first-time novices to All-Japan trials champions.

Seeing all this happy activity at this event increases the enthusiasm to start preparing for our own NZ Ihatove Adventure trial in February 2011.

We have been working with some key people and can safely make it known that there will be some existing news in the form of special guest riders with the reunion of special friends who have a long history in the world trials scene.

Johny and Isaac, "great to see father and son combination"

A group gathering at NonStop Trials Park proved to be great fun for everyone.

Spring is nearly upon us, lambs are everywhere and the flowers are starting to blossom.
As Nelson comes to the end of its winter our friends in Japan are near the end of their summer.

The last major event in the Iwate prefecture is this weekend where Yasuo and his team are holding the 34th Idemitsu Ihatove trial.

Here in New Zealand we are starting to prepare for the NZ Nationals in October with the NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial set to run at the end of our summer on the 19 February. So this weekend was a great start to what will be a busy and exciting season.

Johny and Liz have added a new Honda CRF 50 to the fleet for their son Isaac and he looked very comfortable riding around in the afternoon sun.

The team of riders had a variety of riding available to them with sections marked out to test their trialing skills and plenty of fun time between.

By the end of the day everyone looked very tired but contented and happy. See you all again this coming Sunday.

Iwate Prefecture is gearing up to welcome the 34th Idemitsu Ihatove Trial, which takes place on August 28-29.

Yasuo and some of his team "Final prepartion"

The organizing team has finished the massive job of clearing vegetation from the course and is currently busy setting sections. To give an idea of just how long the course is, this involves a three-day trip for the team, which sets sections along the way and stays in a different location each night. Hard work, but the camaraderie and stunning scenery make up for the sweat! Once the sections are in place, there is another two days' work setting up the start/finish area and headquarters.

Everything is on schedule, and NonStop Adventure wishes the team all the best for another hugely successful event this year.

New Zealand local Jake Whitaker has taken out the 2010 Australian Moto Trials Championship at Thunderbird Park - Mount Tamborine, on Sunday 22 August.

Jake Whitaker current Kiwi & Aussie Champion

Overcoming challenges from some of Australia's best riders including; Brisbane local Boyd Wilcocks, West Australian Neil Price, and reigning Champ Colin Zarczynski, the 19 year-old put in a solid effort, keeping his points low enough to take the win.

Speaking at the end of the day the Kiwi, and reigning (and three-times) New Zealand Moto Trials Champion, was thrilled to take out the Aussie Title on his fourth attempt.

"It's a bloody good feeling!" Whitaker said.

"I've wanted this title for about four years now so it's a really good feeling.

"I had a stunning first lap on Sunday, scoring only four points - I felt way more comfortable on the bike than I did on Saturday, and I really enjoyed it out there.

"I'll now go finish the New South Wales Series, there are a few more rounds of that, and I'd like to do another stint in Europe however it all depends on sponsorship!"

Intro level machine "The Randoner"

Thanks to the foresight of Mr. Norihito Akiyama who is now Japanese importer of GasGas motorcycles from the beginning of this year, GasGas are producing an entry level machine to help get bums on seats.

Norihito was the Scorpa importer for many years previously.

Randoner with long-ride kit

He requested that there was need for GasGas to develop a new multi-purpose 4t bike for the Japanese market, and GasGas agreed.

It has Yamaha's 125 4t engine adopted electric starter for beginners and ladies.

The new machine has been called "Randoner"

GasGas Japan website here

Mr.Akiyama has made arrangements that GasGas will ship a prototype Randoner to Japan, and he'll exhibit it only in the Japanese Idemitsu Ihatove event!

It is also worth noting the Takumi Narita and his brother Ryo are currently riding under the GasGas banner.

Takumi is keen to compete in the ISDE when preparations are complete.

Takumi and Ryo along with their father Shozo will be taking part in this year's Japanese Ihatove event at the end of this month.

NZ Ihatove Trial Commemorative Tray

Last February Yasuo and our Japanese friends presented this Joboji-nuri lacquer tray (designed by Yasuo) to the Tasman District Council as an expression of Japan-NZ friendship to mark the holding of the inaugural NZ Ihatove trial.

Since they didn't have a stand for it, they looked for one that would fit over there.

The council has found a perfect stand, and now it is displayed in the showcase in the entrance hall.

Tasman District Council has ties with other Japanese cities and there are lots of fine gifts displayed there, so we are very pleased that Yasuo chose something that is very beautiful and different from the other gifts on display.