Jake Whitaker

Hey guys,

I managed to do it again but only just this time, Warren Laugesen put up a good fight along with Karl Clark. Saturday was really tight on time which caused me to make some stupid mistakes from rushing.It was frustrating as there wasn’t much you could do about it as at the start of every section there was a big queue of riders and all you could do was wait your turn. 

To make things even better half way through my last lap I lost my back brake completely which was making not only the down hills really difficult and scary but near enough impossible. Still I was able to take the win with a 12 point time penalty. On Sunday I had a pretty bad first lap which put me in 2nd place behind Warren. I was trying my hardest all day to get those points back but unfortuntely I wasn’t able to and Warren took the win for day two.

This put a lot of pressure on me as it came down to the last day again to decide who would hold the title. It was just like back in 2007 when I first won it, so I knew I could cope with the pressure and pull it off again. Also the event organisers decided that they were only going to make it 3 laps of 10 sections instead of 4, so I knew that I had to be on the money right from the start because if I lost it on the first 2 laps then it would be very dificult to come back from it.

Our first lap was much the same on points and we tyed on the second. Going into the 3rd he had me right up until section 8 where I knew I had to get those last few sections. I was able to get section 8 for a 2 which was an awesome ride as it was one of the hardest sections of the day, Then I moved on to 9 and 10 cleaning them both.

It was the best feeling in the world coming up over that last rock out of section 10 with my Mum and Dad, my girlfriend Georgina  and my minder Nick all standing at the end pegs just as relieved as I was. In the end I won by 7 points.

A massive thanks to my sponsors Vee Rubber Tyres, Spectro oils, Motomart Lower Hutt, Hutt Boyz Choppers and Rayz Signs and Designs.

Also a special thanks to

Mum and Dad, my girlfriend Georgina, my minder Nick Ball and Karl Clark for showing awesome sportsmen ship and great friendship by making the effort to come back for my last few sections giving his encouragment and support, it made all the difference.

Thanks again guys

Jakey

I headed up to Hamilton early Friday morning for the last two rounds of the north Island champs over the weekend. I was lucky enough to Stay with John Ravenscroft in Te Kuiti, So I got taken out to a awesome practise area just down the road from his place. Spent a hour out riding in the wet weather running in my new set of V rubber tyres for the weekend and finding plenty of grip in the slippery conditions.

Saturday was real wet and slippery and there were a few sections in a river with some extremely greasy rocks but they actually turned out to have the most traction after moving on to the sections on the side of the hill that were pretty much just a mud slide. I won the day by a good amount of points and i was happy with how i was riding.

Sunday was defiantly the highlight of the weekend as there was just a paddock of real big round rocks. Was on a clean lap right up until section 9 where my front wheel washed out and i got a five, pretty slack really could have got away with just the one point to correct myself but no i was to focused on getting the clean. Second and third lap i lost one point then on the forth i was going for the clean lap but had to settle for a lap of three. Still more than enough to take the win again though.

A real big thanks to John Ravo for putting me up over the weekend, The Hamilton club for putting on a awesome to day event, My sponsors, Hutt boys Chopperz, Vee Rubber Tyres Spectro Oils, Motormart and of course Mummy and Daddy.

Thanks guys,

JAKEY

Hey guys,

Had an awesome week last week for the build up to the titles over the weekend. Training on the bike from Tuesday onwards up near the Montesa importers place. Me Nick and Dad had heaps of fun and we all felt really good coming into the weekend. This year we were able to go around on  the Friday and check out the sections for the weekend and man, every section had at least three massive steps in and really long, so they were all tight on the 90 second time limit.

On Saturday we had a good crack at all the sections and found the three laps of the 15 sections really tough going and had a few big fives and a couple of fairly big crashes. In a way it was good to have such a tough trial as its not impossible to come back from any mistake, as every rider there was in the same boat. I was in 3rd after day one which I found a little disappointing, but was ready and keen to make up for it on the Sunday.  I felt I was riding better the next day apart from a few sections that I just wasn’t quite aggressive enough on to pull them off. Towards the end of the first lap though I was having some wicked clean rides and to have all the Aussie spectators and my minder Nick and Dad cheering me on was awesome and gave me so much confidence. On the last lap we went around all the sections that I knew I could get without too much trouble and saved all the super hard ones for last, when time wasnt so much of an issue. We just had to try and get through the sections for three points as not many riders could even get through. Made it up to 2nd on Sunday about 30 points away from the win. A bit gutted as I feel I have worked hard for it this year and to come out with the same result as last year sucks. I wont be giving up on it that easy though.

A really big thanks to every one who was behind me while I was over there, My Dad for coming and giving me all the Dad advice HAHA, my minder Nick, top job mate, Tarp at Montesa Australia, Warren for coming over and doing his best to help me try get the win.

I also sympathise with Kyle Middleton for having an unlucky crash half way through Sunday and wasn’t able to finish off the weekend. Good luck to the Aussie TDN team’s go hard and make sure that trophy comes back to this side of the world.

Cheers Guys

Jakey 

Hey guys,

things have been a bit quiet on the competition side of things up in till now with the aussie champs coming up next weekend, But by no means have i been sitting around and having a break off the bike, i have been training really hard for this event and im riding better than ever and feeling confident on the bike. A big thanks to my minder nick for having a big part in my impovment over the last few months, out there almost every weekend with me rain or shine.

Also last weekend karl clark another person who has got me a long way in trials made the flight up to Welly to come training with me up in Hawks Bay, so i could get familiar with the rocks and the more grippy conditions that i will have in aussie. We had an awesome weekend with some good laugh’s. cheers for coming up mate.

so this week im having a rest off the bike and just keeping fit by running, Me Nick and dad fly out this Monday morning so get over there well before the event to get some good training in and set the bike up etc.

Will keep you up to date with results as soon as im near computer.

Cheers

jakey

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the delay on getting this report out.

Well we had an awesome weekend over Easter taking out the Oceania title once again with my two NZ team members Stephen Oliver and Peter Oliver. First day was awesome with a cold frosty morning to start off the day, soon becoming warm and perfect riding conditions. Over the whole day my score didn’t get over single figures which was  really good, even slipping in the odd clean lap. Sections were well set and enjoyable to ride, nice and flowing with the odd big climb.

Day two was much the same but the sections being a little more on the easy side, you would think this would mean my scores would be even lower than the day before but in fact it was the complete opposite and i found myself losing some stupid unecessary points as i wasn’t being pushed by any of my competition and found it harder to stay focused with such a big lead over the event.

So with a slightly higher score than day 1 i was still in front of the rest of the pack by a good amount, to take out the top spot overall.

A big thanks to Motormart Lower Hutt for the preparation of my bike and all the work they put into it getting it running really well, also Nick my minder over the two days ( Top job Bro!) 

Cheers Guys

Jakey 

Well after a bit of a rush getting up to Palmy on Saturday morning we arrived in time for a practise, which was a good thing, as it took me a while to get to grips with the slippery creek. My first couple of laps didnt go too well but still had a good lead over the event; but i wasn’t feeling as calm and smooth on the bike as i should have. On my 3rd lap things were going a lot better but still loosing points.

Sunday was a lot nicer day for me with the sections being rocky, but also very loose with small stones moving around underneath you all the time. I was feeling much better on the bike and was extremly close to a lap of zero right up until the last section of the day which i had been struggling on all day with either a 3 or a 5 but i managed to get through for a 1.Therefore my best lap of the weekend was 1 point.

A big thanks to my sponsors Hutt Boyz Choppers, Motor Mart and Darbies.

Cheers guys,

Jake

Well i was really looking forward to riding my first event of the year and have been keeping up the training so was feeling good.  On Saturday the grass was a little slippery in the morning so i was loosing a few points here and there, as the day went on and the grass was all dryed out i was feeling much more on form. Finished the day off 1st but not with as much of a lead as i would of liked.

Sunday morning I was feeling good on the bike and was really relaxed and full of energy, this reflected on my score as i went round all four laps only droping six points. I was much happier with how i rode the second day and was able to take the overall win quite easy. I think i just needed a day to get back into the swing of it all.

I would like to thank Warren for showing great sportsmenship over the weekend, still willing to give advice when i ask.

Cheers Jake

This year the three days of the NZ champs were held way down South in Alexandra, one of my favourite places to ride. We left early Tuesday and arrived down in Alex Wednesday afternoon so I had a good few days of practise and getting used to the bike that I was riding for the weekend, a 250 Honda Montesa 4 stroke.

By the time Saturday came around I was feeling really good about things and started the event off well losing two points for the whole day. The sections were a little on the tame side which in a way actually made it harder on the riders as every single point was going to make a difference to the result as the points were very low. Sunday was really good, the sections were set at a good level with some bigger steps than the day before. I was riding well and after the four laps of the ten sections still had no points on my card which was an awesome achievement for me. 

Going into the last day I was confident and not only had a goal to win but to have another four cards with no points on them, after a few close calls fighting against the wind and some awesome riding I achieved my goal, two clean days and the NZ champion for the second time in a row.

Once again it was a team effort so a big thanks to the people below.

Mum and DAD, Karl and Debbie Clark, Brendon and Cathy Wadsworth and the Oliver Family.

cheers guys and thanks again for a wicked year.  

Hi guys,

Well last Monday me Dad and Nick Ball (my minder) all flew out to Melbourne to get a few days on the bike before the trial on Saturday and Sunday. During training i felt really strong and comfortable on the bike and was really feeling confident with Nick and was looking forward to the event.

Saturday morning i started off a little nervy and had a couple of unlucky fives on the first half of the lap as i was feeling the pressure. After a good pep talk with Dad and Nick i soon settled in and started to get a rhythm going on but at the end of the day was only good enough for 4th. On Sunday i felt a lot more relaxed in the sections which reflected in my riding as i posted the lowest scores all day. The sections were really big all weekend so i was well at home on the big grippy rocks so i was enjoying my ride as well. After winning on Sunday this put me in 2nd overall for the championship, so not quite what i went over for but still to come back from 4th was a big effort.

I would like to give a big thanks to Tarp at Montesa Australia for all his help, the bike was awesome couldn’t have been better. Mum and Dad. Dad for all the encouragement and advice over the week and of course Nick for doing a wicked job minding keeping me focoused and relaxed when it wasn’t going too well. It was a team effort and we were really close to pulling it off so thanks guys. I hope i can pay back the favour when we go over and win it next year.

Cheers

Jake

We flew out to Spain on Friday morning.  We arrived at the paddock round lunch time and in the afternoon we had a practice and walked the sections.  The sections looked difficult and very long so time was going to be hard.

On Saturday the women’s championship was held and also the men’s practice and after we were able to watch some of the women ride.  Sunday I started off feeling good but not so long into the first lap things were not starting to go to plan.  I was making some stupid mistakes and were struggling to get into a good rhythm.  My second lap was a little better but still not as good as I hoped.  I rode my last section in Europe on a man made section and cleaned it perfectly so I was happy with that but would have liked to have had more of these during the day.  I finished 12^th for the day and finished the overall Championship in 10^th. 

Afterwards we watched Toni Bou win his second World Outdoor Championship in style making the last man made section look so easy on the back wheel.  Said goodbye to James and Jack as they are heading back to England and wont get to see them before I go back home.  We leave to come home on Thursday so I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone when I get back home.

My next major event is competing in the Aussie Champs in a few weeks time.

Thanks to Karl for doing a great job minding over the season and also the rest of the Clark family for their support while I have been here. 

Thanks also to those who have sent me emails, txt and phone calls over this year and not forgetting my family back home because without them I wouldn’t have had this awesome experience this year.  So THANKS!!!!!

See you all soon.

Jake