NZ Insider No.75: Keep ‘Em Coming

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

The Otago Motocross Championship in the deep south of New Zealand, hosted by the Mosgiel District Motorcycle Club, took place over the weekend near the settlement of Lee Stream.

Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager and lead rider, Josh Coppins, racing on board a YZ450F edged out Scott Columb on his first major race meeting aboard his new Kawasaki KX450F for the MX1-class victory, while Crown Kiwi NPMC KTM’s Joel Meikle claimed the MX2-class victory.

The New Zealand Supercross Championship will again be a one-round event in 2015, held in conjunction with the Burt Munro Challenge Festival, this coming Thursday on November 26. The event dubbed ‘The World’s Most Southern Supercross’ takes place at the Cooper SX track near Winton, and features a number of visiting Australians including Sam Duncanson, Nick Sutherland and Geran Stapleton, as well as some notable Kiwis.

The premier SX1 (Open) class will feature locals including Yamaha’s Josh Coppins, Honda’s Cody Cooper and Kawasaki’s Scott Columb, while KTM Factory Juniors’ international star Josiah Natzke makes the trek down for SX2 (Lites). With 2014 champion Jay Wilson out of contention due to a recent injury, it will be a fresh name on the SX2 trophy this time around.

Coppins’ race activities for the week do not stop there, backing up with the Burt Munro Beach Race on Friday, followed by the Street Races, also part of the Burt Munro event, in Invercargill over the weekend. For more details, check out the event’s Facebook page.

Unfortunately, for enduro and cross country fans, due to a lack of entries, event organiser Sean Clarke has been forced to cancel the annual Suzuki 6-Hour which was due to take place this coming weekend on November 28-29. It is a shame the iconic event will not go ahead for 2015, but with less than 30 entries, an event of that scale simply isn’t viable. We hope it will be back again in 2016!

The Kiwi MX summer season shifts up a gear next weekend on December 5-6 with the famous annual Auckland Champs at the popular Harrisville circuit near Pukekohe, South Auckland. With the Pukekohe club electing not to host a round of the 2016 NZ MX Nationals, this will be the only major event at the venue this summer. Track manager Tony Cooksley is currently making considerable changes to various sections of the track in preparation for the event, which you can follow on the club’s Facebook page.