NZ Insider No.54: What A Battle!

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

It was a typically chilly start on Saturday for the annual Battle of the Clubs event at Taupo’s Digger McEwen Park, but it wasn’t long before the sun came out for an epic day of racing.

The entry list for this year’s event was the strongest it has ever been since its inception, which translated to some great racing across the entire day’s programme, from Junior 85cc through to the Veteran classes. One of the key features of the event is that it not only serves as a fundraiser for the New Zealand team’s travel costs to the Motocross of Nations event – to be held this year in Ernee, France, in less than three months’ time – but also follows a similar race format and points structure.

The Junior programme consists of three races – Junior 85cc-Junior 125cc, Junior 85cc-Junior 250cc, and Junior 125cc-Junior 250cc, with the Senior programme of MX2-Vets, MX1-Vets, and MX1-MX2, and the points are based on placing – 1^st = 1 point, 2^nd = 2 points and so on.

The prestige of the event has also risen to a new level this year with clubs now placing more emphasis on their entire team efforts, with custom gear, supporters wear, flags, banners and paraphernalia all contributing to a great atmosphere, as well as increased club rivalry on and off the track.

The Overall club title went to Tauranga for 2015, with their formidable team of six simply too strong.

Junior 85cc – Brodie Connolly
Junior 125cc – Josh Tredinnick
Junior 250cc – Tyler Steiner
MX1 – Cody Cooper
MX2 – Aaron Wiltshier
Veterans – Darryll King

Second went to Nelson, with Cambridge claiming third Overall.

Current NZ MX2 champion, Jay Wilson, showed his class in MX2 as a surprise sub for the Nelson club team, alongside Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager, Josh Coppins, on MX1 duties. Wilson has been spending time at Coppins’ team base near Nelson during his MX Nationals break, and when Ethan Bruce was no longer able to compete, the club reached out to Jay to fill in, with the likeable Queenslander jumping at the opportunity. Wilson was the top MX2 rider for the day, claiming victory in the MX2-Vets combined race, then a strong third behind Cody Cooper and Ben Townley in the MX1-MX2 race.

And just when Kayne Lamont was on his way back to full fitness after a lengthy period off the bike due to injuries sustained at the start of the year, he crashed in the tricky sawdust section, with what looked to be a broken wrist, but subsequent checks thankfully revealing nothing broken.

Lamont will now concentrate on preparing to fulfil his obligations in the UK, with an imminent departure to join the MX Zone Turvey Yamaha team, beginning his UK campaign at the next round of the British Motocross series at Foxhill on July 19.

The Honda duo of Cooper and Townley demonstrated that they are the top MX1 riders in NZ currently, trading wins in both MX1 encounters, BT with the win in the MX1-Vets race, and Coops winning the final MX1-MX2 race. Both riders are pushing for selection to represent NZ at the Motocross of Nations, with the team of three likely to be named by Motorcycling New Zealand in the coming weeks.

Detailed results can be found here: http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/1160127

The focus for many on the moto scene now switches to this weekend’s Tarawera 100 off-road race, held near the Bay of Plenty township of Te Teko on Saturday, July 4. The annual event is one of the biggest on the off-road calendar, and 2015 promises to be another cracker with a stacked entry list, including Ben Townley.