MOTORSPORT: CHEY Taupaki has long been into riding motorcycles but it was only on the weekend he decided to take the plunge and sign up for competition at the Whitsunday Moto Sport track, just outside Proserpine.

Taupaki, from Cannonvale, was riding a Honda CBR 250 RR in the Formula 2 class and the Open RR class.

"I have ridden for a long time but never on the track and its totally different,” he said. "It's awesome (and) a cheap thing to get into. You can pick up bikes for around $2000 and you are ready to race.”

Taupaki said being new to the sport, he was not exactly leading the field but was happy to simply compete with himself.

"I am just trying to better my time from before. And then you get as good as the next guy in front of you and then once you get past him you get as good as the next guy.

"I am just at the stage where I am challenging myself and catching up slowly to the other guys.”

In trying to catch the guy in front on Sunday, Taupaki pushed a bit hard and came off the bike.

"I just didn't turn the bike basically. I didn't look through the corner properly and was looking at the pretty flowers,” he said.

"It has been a big learning curve for me.”

Local rider and event organiser Ash Wheeler, on the other hand, was on fire at the weekend.

He said due to family commitments on Father's Day, riders planning to race vintage side cars had to leave to get back to Townsville and vintage racing didn't go ahead on Sunday.

"We were worried about the weather but today the sun has come out and the guys are riding well,” he said.