Latest news with #Basalaj
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Nelson Rider Basalaj Claims First NZ Title
JUNE 9, 2025: South Islander Bailey Basalaj finally lived the dream at the weekend as he collected his first major New Zealand motorcycling title. The Honda rider from Nelson has been racing at the ultimate level for many years now, and on Sunday he finally broke through to achieve his career-long ambition. He won the opening round of the 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships near Nelson in April, but he was still taking nothing for granted as he headed to round two near Whanganui over the King's Birthday Weekend, barely a week ago. Basalaj managed to win the weekend near Whanganui and, with two outright victories in a row, it set him up for 'a more relaxed third and final round', two back-to-back days of racing, near Martinborough on Saturday and Sunday. Basalaj finished runner-up in the 'sprint' segment of the competition held on Saturday, beaten to the finish by Owaka's Blake Affleck, and it was the same story again the following day, during the more-arduous long-loop phase, with Affleck once more winning ahead of Basalaj. This gave Affleck overall honours for the weekend, but, more importantly, it was enough for Basalaj – with his eventual 1-1-2 scorecard for the series – to wrap up the premier Expert Grade title overall. Second overall for the series was Affleck (with 3-4-1 round results over the series) and New Plymouth's Josh Houghton (2-6-3) completed the Exert Grade podium, while Whangamata's Ethan Jameson (4-3-11) and Amberley's Nathan Hodge (6-5-5) rounded out the top five for 2025. Best of the Intermediate Grade riders at the weekend was Masterton's George Callaghan, followed by Masterton's Dave Edmonds and Tokoroa's Mark Newton. For the series overall it finished with Callaghan on top (with a 2-1-1 score-card over the three rounds), followed by Whanganui pair Grant McKinlay (1-6-5) and Jason Wakeling (0-2-7). Best of the women this season was Stratford's Megan Collins, who finished a highly-creditable fourth overall in the Intermediate Grade. In addition to Yamaha-Motor New Zealand, the 2025 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships were supported by Motorcycling New Zealand, Tasman Pine Forests Ltd, Macaulay Metals, Best Build Construction, Silver-bullet web site and Kiwi Rider magazine. 2025 Yamaha NZ Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui. Round 3: June 7-8, Ruakokoputuna Hall, Martinborough District, South Wairarapa.
Scoop
a day ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
Nelson Rider Basalaj Leads A Honda 1-2 At Nationals
JUNE 8, 2025: South Islander Bailey Basalaj led a Honda 1-2 finish to the top of the series podium as his year's New Zealand Enduro Championships wrapped up in the North Island. The 21-year-old industrial refrigeration engineer from Nelson has been racing at the ultimate level for many years now, and on Sunday he finally broke through to achieve his career-long ambition, but he had a fight on his hands with fellow Honda rider Blake Affleck making a late charge for the title. Basalaj won the opening round of the 2025 New Zealand Enduro Championships near Nelson in April, but he was still taking nothing for granted as he headed to round two near Whanganui over the King's Birthday Weekend, barely a week ago. He managed to win again over the weekend near Whanganui and, with two outright victories in a row, it set Basalaj up for 'a more relaxed third and final round', two back-to-back days of racing, near Martinborough on Saturday and Sunday. Basalaj finished runner-up in the 'sprint' segment of the competition held on Saturday, beaten to the finish by Affleck, from Owaka, south of Balclutha, and it was the same story again the following day, during the more-arduous long-loop phase, with Affleck once more winning ahead of Basalaj. This gave Affleck overall honours for the weekend, but, more importantly, it was enough for Basalaj – with his eventual 1-1-2 scorecard for the series – to wrap up the premier Expert Grade title overall. Second overall for the series was Affleck (with 3-4-1 round results over the series) and New Plymouth's Josh Houghton (2-6-3) completed the Exert Grade podium, while Whangamata's Ethan Jameson (4-3-11) and Amberley's Nathan Hodge (6-5-5) rounded out the top five for 2025. Best of the Intermediate Grade riders at the weekend was Masterton's George Callaghan, followed by Masterton's Dave Edmonds and Tokoroa's Mark Newton. For the series overall it finished with Callaghan on top (with a 2-1-1 score-card over the three rounds), followed by Whanganui pair Grant McKinlay (1-6-5) and Jason Wakeling (0-2-7). Best of the women this season was Stratford's Megan Collins, who finished a highly-creditable fourth overall in the Intermediate Grade. 2025 New Zealand Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui. Round 3: June 7-8, Ruakokoputuna Hall, Martinborough District, South Wairarapa.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
Honda Rider Basalaj Stretches His Advantage
South Islander Bailey Basalaj has leapt another huge step closer to winning his first national motorcycle racing title after another solid performance over King's Birthday Weekend. The Nelson rider won the opening round of the 2025 New Zealand Enduro Championships near Nelson in April and probably felt there was a target on his back when he arrived at round two in the lower North Island at the weekend. However, the Honda star continues to lead the way after also winning the second two-day round of competition near Whanganui at the weekend and he knows a 'steady as she goes approach may be enough to get the job done', with the third and final weekend of racing now less than seven days away. Bailey won the 'sprint' segment of the competition day on Sunday, but was forced to settle for third overall during the main enduro on Monday, although his 1-3 score for the two days was still enough to give him the overall edge over Masterton's Max Williams (who finished runner-up with 2-4 results over the two days), with Whangamata's Ethan Jamieson (third, 3-7), Owaka's Blake Affleck (fourth, 4-6) and Amberley's Nathan Hodge (fifth, 5-5) rounding out the top five in the premier Expert AA grade. New Plymouth's Josh Houghton finished sixth overall for the weekend, with a 16-1 score-card, and can only rue his lost opportunity to overshadow Basalaj. Houghton had a minor mechanic issue to deal with on Sunday and this obviously cost him dearly because he was certainly on fire on Monday, winning three of the five separate sections, ahead of Taupo's Wil Yeoman, and clinching overall honours for the day, with Basalaj third overall for day two, finishing just 10 seconds behind Yeoman. "It wasn't such a good day for me on Monday,' explained Basalaj afterwards. 'After winning round one of the series, I knew I didn't need to ride over my head and I'm still in a good position anyway with now just one round to go. 'My Honda CRF250R bike performed brilliantly and didn't miss a beat, although I made a few human errors, silly mistakes that cost me time on Monday. I tried to hop over a log and messed that up. It was hard to get back into a rhythm after that. 'Thankfully, the pressure is off for me a little bit in terms of winning the title and perhaps I won't need to push too hard at the final round. I still have to be careful though, because I could still lose it all from here.' Best of the intermediate (A grade) riders at the weekend was Masterton's George Callaghan, followed by Whanganui's Jason Wakeling and Stratford's Megan Collins. Leading rider in the B–Trail class was Wakefield's Cam Clarke, with Palmerston North's Jarrod Amey topping the B-Junior class. The third and final round of the series is set for farmland near Masterton next weekend, on June 7-8. 2025 NZ Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Nelson Rider Leads Series After South Island Round
APRIL 28, 2025: South Islander Bailey Basalaj obviously relished racing on home turf as he won the opening round of the 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships near Nelson at the weekend. The Honda rider was in his element as this first of three-rounds of the 2025 series marked its only visit to the South Island this season. The racing over the two days, Friday and Saturday, were at separate venues, both near Nelson. The concluding two rounds of the series will be held on back-to-back weekends in the North Island, near Whanganui on the weekend of June 1-2 and near Masterton a week later, on June 7-8. The nearest challengers for Basalaj in the Expert AA grade at the weekend were New Plymouth's Josh Houghton, Owaka's Blake Affleck and Nelson's Luke Heaphy (who finished runner-up to Basalaj on Friday), with Houghton the stand-out rider on Saturday, eventually winning three of the day's five special test sections and claiming the overall win for that day. In the end, however, Basalaj produced a solid 1-2 score-card for the two days and leads the championship standings in the premier grade after round one. Houghton finished runner-up for the weekend with 3-1 results, while Affleck claimed the third podium spot with a 5-3 score-card. Whangamata's Ethan Jameson (with 7-4 results) and Judgeford's Cameron Judd (8-6) rounded out the top five. Best of the intermediate (A grade) riders was Whanganui's Grant McKinlay, followed by Masterton's George Callaghan. "The combined Kapi-Mana and Nelson Motorcycle Clubs did a fantastic job to create tracks that were safe, exciting and challenging at the same time and the racing over both days was of the highest calibre," said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Justin Stevenson. 'The venues at the weekend were a mix of farmland on Friday and then a mix of steep, tight and open forestry on Saturday, so it was fast in some places and quite tricky in others,' said Stevenson. In addition to Yamaha-Motor New Zealand, the 2025 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships are supported by Motorcycling New Zealand, Tasman Pine Forests Ltd, Macaulay Metals, Best Build Construction, Silver-bullet and Kiwi Rider magazine. 2025 Yamaha NZ Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui. Round 3: June 7-8, Ruakokoputuna Hall, Martinborough District, South Wairarapa.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
BASALAJ Takes His Honda To Establish Champs Lead
Even when things weren't going his way, South Islander Bailey Basalaj managed to overcome the odds and prevail at the opening round of this year's New Zealand Enduro Championships series near Nelson at the weekend. Nelson man Basalaj (Honda CRF250) looked comfortable racing near his hometown, and he emerged as series leader after a difficult two days of racing on different extremes of terrain. It was actually harder for him than he made it look, and it was only his determination, resilience, riding skill and, of course, his fast, reliable and trusted motorcycle, that got him through in the end. 'The first day of racing on Friday was more of a GP-style course, with lots of bunting marking it out, and it was quite fast in places,' said Basalaj afterwards. 'I put in some good lap times, and I managed to flow really well with the terrain. The track was reversed for the next stage and again I adapted to the changes quite quickly,' said the 21-year-old refrigeration engineer. 'Day two was among trees and forestry slash and I was not as comfortable on this terrain. I couldn't get a good flow going, although I managed to make up time on my main rival, New Plymouth's Josh Houghton, even with the track marking not being so clear. 'By the second special test section we could see wheel tracks, so it was more obvious where the course went, but, basically, I didn't click with this course on day two. 'The bike didn't miss a beat and I managed to scramble to an overall win for the weekend.' In addition to Houghton, the other nearest challengers for Basalaj in the premier expert (AA) grade at the weekend were Owaka's Blake Affleck and Nelson's Luke Heaphy (who finished runner-up to Basalaj on Friday). Basalaj produced a solid first on day one and was a close runner-up to Houghton on day two – finishing just nine seconds behind his main rival after a frustrating day – and Basalaj therefore leads the championship standings in the premier grade after round one. Houghton finished runner-up for the weekend with 3-1 results, while Affleck claimed the third podium spot with a 5-3 score-card. Whangamata's Ethan Jameson (with 7-4 results) and Judgeford's Cameron Judd (8-6) rounded out the top five. Best of the intermediate (A grade) riders was Whanganui's Grant McKinlay, followed by Masterton's George Callaghan. Basalaj was thrilled to win this first of three-rounds of the 2025 series and now has his fingers crossed as he looks ahead to wrapping it up at the back-to-back concluding rounds in the North Island in June. The next round of the series will be held on rugged terrain near Whanganui, on the weekend of June 1-2, and the third and final round will be staged near Masterton a week later, on June 7-8. Looking ahead to the future, however, Basalaj will be heading to France, Italy and Germany later in the year to ride the final three rounds of the Enduro Grand Prix World Championships. 'It's possible I might race the full GP series next season,' Basalaj revealed. 2025 NZ Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui.
