NZ Insider No.70: Taupo MX Fest

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the NZ Insider, penned by Chris Ritchie.

The Kiwi summer moto season is finally upon us, and this weekend we are very much looking forward to the annual Taupo MX Fest at Digger McEwen Park – one of the most popular events of the year. Riders of all age groups from Minis to Veterans from across New Zealand will converge on the famous lakeside township to do battle in their respective classes.

This will be the first chance to gauge the current form of many riders as intensity increases over the next few summer months heading into the 2016 New Zealand Motocross Nationals beginning in February.

In MX2, we are excited to see Kayne Lamont’s first competitive outing with Altherm JCR Yamaha since returning from his recent European stint and Motocross of Nations appearance. Lamont has also just undertaken an intense training regime with Team Manager, Josh Coppins, as he rebuilds his confidence for the upcoming season.

KTM’s Josiah Natzke makes his permanent step up to the 250SX-F while he continues preparations for his 2016 European season with selected Kiwi events this summer. Also look out for Amberley’s Micah Mcgoldrick, the Honda Racing pairing of Aaron Wiltshier and Logan Blackburn, as well as KTM’s Hamish Harwood to be at the sharp end of the field.

The MX1 class will see local hero, Brad Groombridge, on familiar machinery in the form of his MC2 Suzuki RM-Z450 on his home track, as well as Yamaha legend, Josh Coppins, on riding duties for his Altherm JCR team. Current MX1 champ, Honda Racing’s Cody Cooper, will sit this one out, taking some time off after the Motocross of Nations. Look to see him back on track next month at the Waikato Champs.

Other names sure to mix it up include KTM’s Jesse Wiki, Honda’s Mitch Rees, Yamaha’s Campbell Bailey, Scotty Canham on his Husky debut, and World Veterans number two, Darryll King, back on his favoured YZ450F.

Finally, the 2015 New Zealand Veterans and Women’s Motocross Championship took place over the weekend near Opunake, South Taranaki. The rolling natural terrain circuit proved rough, rocky, and technically challenging for even the most experienced riders, with the Taranaki club keeping it real with a traditional old school bungee start!

Women’s racing across both the Junior and Senior classes in particular was some of the closest we have seen in recent years, with smiles all around the moto chick fraternity. In the Women’s Junior category, it was Rachael Archer who brought her cross-country background to the fore, clinching the national title, followed by Oceanna Hardwidge, and Taylah Mitchell. And in the Women’s Senior class, it was Letitia Alabaster who claimed the Overall win, ahead of Katie Silcock, and former champion, Sarah Elwin.

Here is a wrap of the results from the Veterans classes:

40-44 Years Unders