NZ Insider No.76: SX Blown Away

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

Thursday’s New Zealand Supercross Championship, dubbed ‘the world’s most southern supercross’, unfortunately had to be cancelled with gale force winds forcing organisers to pull the pin shortly after Qualifying sessions. The one-round one-off event, held in conjunction with the Burt Munro Challenge Festival, was meant to go down at the Cooper SX track near Winton. With powerlines being torn down, amongst other carnage across the Southland region, the safety of the riders and spectators was paramount, and it was a call that had to be made.

While the national titles could not technically be awarded, bragging rights based on the timing sheets from Qualifying went to Alexandra’s Bryn Gilbert (KTM), and Reefton’s Bailey Banks (KTM) in the Junior 250 class. Hamilton’s KTM-mounted star, Josiah Natzke, and visiting Australian, Honda’s Geran Stapleton, topped the timing sheets in the Senior Lites (SX2) class. Stapleton then headed straight back to Australia for the AUS-X Open over the weekend! In the premier Senior Open (SX1) class it was Yamaha legend, Josh Coppins, who clocked the top time, followed by Dunedin’s Campbell King (Suzuki), and Whakatane’s Mitch Rees (Honda).

The focus now shifts to this coming weekend’s Auckland Motocross Champs, with almost 300 riders converging on the popular Harrisville circuit near Pukekohe, South Auckland. This will be the only chance for many to get some quality racing action at Harrisville this summer as the Pukekohe club elected not to host a round of the 2016 NZ MX Nationals. The track has undergone some significant changes during recent weeks under the watchful eye of track manager, Tony Cooksley, in the lead up to the event, in an effort to improve safety, and encourage better racing for all ages.

With names like Josh Coppins, defending champ Cody Cooper, Josiah Natzke and Hamish Harwood lining up in MX1, as well as Kayne Lamont, Hadleigh Knight and Ethan Martens in MX2, the stage is set for another epic weekend of motocross action at one of the best facilities in the country.

Since taking delivery of his new Suzuki RM-Z450, Ben Townley has been busy on and off the bike, also teaming up with Kiwi BMX legend and Olympian, Kurt Pickard, as part of his intense training programme. His highly anticipated MXGP return is now less than three months away!

BT is pictured here putting in work at Rotorua recently, with the number eight which he will run in 2016.