Today was awesome. The best day ever so far. This was our first road trip to Taranaki and my first time running in KOTM, which was also the final round of the North Island Champs. We went out and set up our pits yesterday and did a track walk while the prep was still being done and the layout of the track was cool. There’s a massive step down and a few areas that switch back and are going to get gnarly and rutty. When we arrived at the track this morning all the grooming and watering had been done and it looked so good I couldn’t wait for the day to get underway. I felt really good in practice, checked out lines and tested out the rollers and doubles before attacking them in the races. My starts were tidy all day and despite so many riders on the track and some big ruts, braking bumps and shiny patches managed to stay on my bike from beginning to end and finished Races 1 and 2 in second. Race 3 was epic. There were three of us really pushing each other for the top step of the podium and I was in third when my battle buddies went down in the ruts in front of me with 2 laps to go. I could see they were ok and took this opportunity and went for it, I rode even faster and harder up until the checkered flag. I went and saw the boys at their trailers after the race and we hung out for a bit until prize giving. We all get along really well on and off the track no matter what the results are. 2-2-1 today put me in First overall for King of the Mountain and second overall for the North Island Champs. So so happy with my riding today and the results and really looking forward to taking on Woodville big track next weekend now.
Soren Staudinger 