NZ Insider No.21: Taupo’s MX Fest
Welcome to our weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto‘s NZ Insider. Penned each week by Kiwi, Chris Ritchie, the NZ Insider will present the story-behind-the-stories on NZ-related dirt bike happenings across the globe.
The event on everyone’s minds right now is Taupo’s famous annual Labour Weekend extravaganza, dubbed MX Fest for 2014, taking place this weekend. One of the biggest MX events in NZ will be even bigger this year, with the Taupo Motorcycle Club raising the bar, bringing in additional events to cater for a wider fan base and create a non-stop motocross festival weekend. The North Island Mini Championship combined with the ever-popular Junior racing on Saturday featuring the Trent Haywood Memorial, will be followed by the inaugural Speedcross event to be held from 6pm on the redesigned Taupo supercross track adjacent to the main motocross facility, in an all-new concept by Ben Townley, combining speedway and supercross together into quickfire four-man four-lap races.
12 of the best riders from across New Zealand, as well as some international flavour, will assemble for the event which BT wants to develop into a full on series in the future. A man who needs no introduction, Ben Townley, will not only see his idea finally come to life, he will also swing a leg over his CRF450R for some racing action. He will be joined by American Brett Cue, fresh from his Best Whip appearance at the Monster Energy Cup in Vegas last weekend, keen to mix it with the Kiwi boys.
The Honda Shop Racing’s John Phillips will make his debut aboard the new CRF450R for the team, with teammate and reigning MX1 champ, Cody Cooper, still recovering from his knee surgery earlier this year. The legend, Josh Coppins, team owner and manager, will dust off his boots for the occasion, campaigning a YZ250F, alongside fellow Altherm JCR Yamaha rider and recent NZ MX of Nations MX3 representative, Scott Columb. Local hero, Brad Groombridge, will be back to wow his home fans aboard his RM-Z450, joined by Moto City Suzuki MX2 teammate, Dunedin’s Campbell King.
Flying the Kawi flag will be Paraparaumu’s Jesse Donnelly with his silky smooth supercross skills sure to impress the crowd, alongside his fellow Kawasaki MX2 teammate, Hawkes Bay’s Kieran Scheele. Hamilton’s Jesse Wiki, has switched to the pre-mixer KTM 250SX for 2015 and will certainly be one to watch, especially for the two-stroke fans. Also on KTM will be rising star Josiah Natzke, stepping up to MX2 for this 2014/2015 season with CMR Red Bull KTM. And last but not least, New Zealand’s MX of Nations MX1 rider, Hamish Dobbyn, in his debut race aboard the Husqvarna FC450, will no doubt be in the thick of the action.
Following Speedcross will be the prestigious Senior race programme on Sunday, including a Whip Comp for this year, and even a burnout comp, as well as the coveted Nicky Smith Memorial feature race. It also marks the unofficial start of the new 2014/2015 Kiwi summer motocross season, with some riders debuting their new rides, and new teams, as they get start building toward the Nationals next February and March.
With the Taupo club also ringing the changes on their famous Digger McEwen Park circuit, this weekend promises to be another epic moto event and one not to be missed. For anyone in the wider Taupo region, you would be silly not to be there! Check out this teaser video!
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