It was just a bit of post Christmas fun but, even so, Hawera’s Daryl Hurley still plays for keeps.
The Suzuki rider, recently crowned national MX2 (250cc) motocross champion, reverted to the RM-Z450 he used to win the MX1 (open) class crown last season when he headed to the Bay of Plenty to tackle the annual Whakatane Summercross on Sunday.
Forced to settle for second place behind old foe Michael Phillips in the day’s first MX1 race, Hurley was again the runner-up in the next race, this time behind Taupo’s Brad Groombridge.
But the Taranaki man was nonetheless still well placed to wrap up the premier class overall as the riders lined up for the third, final and deciding race on Sunday.
Just four points separated the top three men – Phillips, Hurley and Groombridge -- with Hurley’s Suzuki team-mate Scott Columb and Taupo's Nick Saunders also close behind.
Whoever finished in front in the third race would take the class outright.
Saunders led from the start but Hurley wasn't ready to roll over, extricating himself from traffic on the opening lap to set about hunting down the Taupo rider.
Within no time at all, Hurley was nipping at Saunders' rear wheel but he could not find a way past.
Then, with less than a lap to go, Hurley put in one last superhuman effort, closing on Saunders as their pair hit the final short uphill before the chequered flag, the two men virtually together as they flew off the crest and over the finish line.
Amazingly, Hurley was credited with the win, only a couple of hundredths of a second between himself and Saunders at the end.
"That was close," Hurley agreed.
"It's hard to get motivated to race at Christmas time but, I guess, when the gate drops the racer in me takes over.
"I started the weekend slowly but I got the win in the end and that's what counts. I had a job to do today and I did it. I was second to Josh Coppins here last year and I didn't want to be runner-up again."
There is still no let-up for Hurley and he and his team-mates now prepare themselves for the New Zealand Supercross season which kicks off at Motueka this weekend, with rounds to follow in Tokoroa on January 17 and February 28.
