The Crankworx World Tour hit Rotorua for the season finale. The weather gods threw all they had at the DH race with strong winds, rain and thunderstorms. None of this could deter the riders from putting down some epic runs. Check out all the action!
Words | Daniel Self Photos | Henry Jaine
The crowds may have been absent on the hillside this year but that didn’t stop the spectacle on Mt Ngongotaha from going off. For the first time ever Crankworx Rotorua was held at the end of the season, and what a way to wrap things up. The spring weather threw everything it had with high winds, rain and random thunderstorms causing havoc. When all was said and done, the riders still threw down the best they had regardless of the setbacks.
Brady Stone doing it for the enduro guys. Fresh off a great EWS season he was looking just as fast as the guys on big bikes.
Finn Hawkesby-Browne looking confident. Finn also spent the winter in Europe, and it seems to have paid off, he looked fast in practice.
Jayd Adlam made the trip up from Queenstown. The Rotorua dirt is a bit different to what he’s used to at home but that didn’t seem to slow him down once. Two practice laps in and looking up to speed already.
Local hero Tuhoto-Ariki Pene was looking dangerously fast on course. After an exceptional finish to the World Cup season he will be looking to end the year on a high.
Kieran Bennett first raced this track during the 2006 World champs. Determined to show the young guns that experience can be worth more than recklessness, he was looking smoother and faster on course than most.
Back on a big bike and loving it, will we see enduro racer Daniel Self at some more DH events in the future?
Brady put down a solid run, before the rain and the top dogs came down he was sitting 1st, with Daniel in 2nd and Jayd rounding out the top 3. With less than half a second between the lot it was going to be a tight race! Brady would finish 6th by the end of the day.
Kieran Bennett came down just as the rain started, while the conditions on the track hadn’t changed too much the rain on his goggles made for poor visibility. Despite this he still put out a great time, beating the benchmark Brady set earlier and finishing 5th overall in the end.
Goggles off and mud flying. The heavens had well and truly opened and were wreaking havoc, with many of the top riders struggling to match the earlier dry times set. Finn Hawkesby-browne was hoping for a good result here, but once the rain came in he decided not to risk pushing the limits and cruised down.
Tuhoto had the ride of the day. He may not have won on the results sheet, but 4th place in the wet and the only rider to come close to matching the dry times was incredible to watch. He still came through the wet schladders section faster than anyone else!
The difference an hour makes. Tuhoto’s bike on the left and Daniels's bike on the right.
Post race yarns, always the best. When all was said and done the crew had a great day on the hill, covering 4th through to 8th positions! Results: Tuhoto-Ariki Pene 4th, Kieran Bennett 5th, Brady Stone 6th, Daniel Self 7th, Jayd Adlam 8th, Finn Hawkesby-Browne 27th.
Full results from Crankworx Rotorua can be found here.