NZ Insider No.39: 2015 MX Champions

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

Just as quickly as they begun, the New Zealand Motocross Nationals ended over the weekend in stunning fashion at the popular Harrisville circuit, south of Auckland. The ever present threat of Cyclone Pam which has devastated parts of the Pacific region over the last few days loomed overhead throughout the day, but fortunately for the motocross fraternity, Pam waited until after the final moto of the day before spoiling any racing.

As often happens with Harrisville, no matter how much water is laid on either by sprinklers or through rainfall, it does not take long to solidify into a rock-hard track surface not even the hardest of hard pack tyres can handle, and Sunday was no different.

In MX1, Cody Cooper was too good again, claiming another round win, securing his third consecutive MX1 title, and his second in a row with Honda. After a season ending knee injury in 2014 and considerable time off the bike, it was a well-deserved return to glory for Coops.

Second for the day and the series was KTM Australia’s Kirk Gibbs, who also claimed the final two moto wins of the series, ensuring Coops didn’t have it all his own way.

Third for the series was Coops’ Honda teammate, John Phillips – for many, the class revelation this season. And as the Kiwi contingent for the upcoming Australian MX Nationals seems to be growing by the day, we have received word that there’s a possibility that Phillips could fill-in for the injured Jake Moss at Kawasaki for at least the first few rounds of the series, until Moss returns to full fitness.

Suzuki’s Rhys Carter finished the series in eighth, and he now switches right back to the 250 as he joins Raceline Seven Suzuki for the upcoming MX Nationals. He has already had one cameo appearance with the team at the final round at Coolum in 2013 where he turned heads, and hopes to do the same in 2015 after a breakthrough 2014 season on the 450.

Jay Wilson’s continued relationship with Josh Coppins and his Altherm JCR Yamaha team was well and truly rewarded with Wilson claiming the NZ MX2 Motocross title to go with his SX crown he won late in 2013. Wilson took another three wins from as many starts to stamp his authority on the class where he held the red plate from the outset winning 10 out of the 12 races to finish 50 points ahead of ‘Mr Consistent’ Hamish Harwood. Harwood was always at the sharp end of the field keeping Wilson honest until the final moto aboard his KTM, and the pair will certainly enter the upcoming MX Nationals as real title contenders.

Third for the day, following up his solid second at round three, was yet another Aussie, Geran Stapleton. The Honda man clearly benefitted with getting some race time under his belt in NZ before he too launches fully into the MX Nationals, now a little more than one week away in Horsham, Victoria.

Fourth for the day, and third Overall in the championship went to Amberley’s Micah Mcgoldrick who after showing such an improvement this season, we are expecting even better things to come, especially considering he is basically still a Privateer.

And in the 125cc class, it was KTM sensation Josiah Natzke who again swept the day with three wins to claim back-to-back titles ahead of his impending European departure this week to compete in the upcoming EMX125 European Championship. Second for the series went to Yamaha’s Cohen Chase, relishing being back on the 125 in 2015, and the new #3 NZ was KTM’s Ben Broad, steadily improving as the series progressed.