Would the egg roll pulling donuts on the grass bugger off.

After the dry pedal fest of the 1^st round of the AKDH Winter Series, 93 riders were quite a bit more challenged at Round 2 in Maraetai forest.

//FUN IN THE MUD IN AUCKLAND

The back track had been worked on the prior weekend, with the small uphill section taken out, a new bus stop before the middle double, a launch mound put in after the step-down so you could triple up the awkward mound with speed, and the finish line being altered slightly.

Throughout the week, heavy rain ensured that mud tyres were going to be a must. The trucks certainly could have used them as they were fish-tailing up the slick mud road. 

Although the numbers were down on the 1^st round, there was a higher calibre of racing. 

BJ Scott and Mike Davies had just returned from Whistler 2 days before the race. I’m not sure they actually wanted to race after spending 3 weeks riding open trails on dry dusty tracks. Mike beat Byron by 2.5 seconds, with James Baron 3^rd, and Jerym Soames 4^th. These were the only riders to go sub 2 minutes. 

In the women’s class, there were 3 World Champs contenders. Vanessa Quin (2:28.99) in her first race back since the crash in Vigo, Spain, took the win by 3 seconds over Misty Lee, and Kelly Smith was 3^rd. Vanessa could actually see the bright side of a wet race for her comeback, “it probably slowed me down so the wrist was able to hold on and not bounce off as it might have in the dry, hitting roots & stuff at pace”.

[+]SEE OUR INTERVIEW WITH VANESSA IN THE LEAD UP TO THE ROTO 06 WORLDS

In other classes, Campbell Robertson (2:28.69) was first in the Junior hardtail,

followed by Thomas Northcott (2:50.13), and Simon Lee (2:53.63).

Rod Chave (2:41.96) won the Hardtail class, with James Taylor 2^nd (2:50.46), and Blyth Pearson 3^rd (2:50.92).

Vets was won by Clayton Villars (2:28.87). 6 seconds back was Shane Baker (2:34.63), and rounding out the top 3 was Mark Horrocks (2:38.63).

Jonathon Speedy (2:14.57) was fastest “under 19”, just over a second faster than Ashley Abel, with Allister Donald back in 3^rd (2:17.54).

The best ride of the day came from Sam Baker who cleaned up his class (“under 15”), with a gap of 21 seconds on 2^nd place Mitchell McDivitt. Third place, was Johnny Casey (2:31.63).Sam also smoked all the under 19’s and was 5^th overall with his time of 2:05.87.

Next round is the final at Dome Valley on 5^th/6^th August, which should attract a big contingent of riders wanting some pre-worlds racing.

See you there!.

It wasn't quite the Otter that Auckland Zoo staff were hunting for but a wet, muddy shaven beaver was seen lurking among the pro-elite riders.