Mount Maunganui's Cody Cooper, West Auckland's Hamish Harwood, Mangakino's Kayne Lamont, Taupo's Brad Groombridge, Mangakino's Maximus Purvis, Te Puke's Logan Blackburn and Beachlands rider Blake Gillard are also expected to be in hot form and sure to feature near the front of the pack.
Lamont was the premier class winner at the MX Fest event last year, while Cooper, Carter and Harwood have just returned from a successful campaign in representing New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in the United States and these riders in particular will really be flying.
In addition, Australian heroes Mason Semmens and Mick McDermid will compete in the race programme.
Now in its 33rd year, the event is expected to attract riders in their hundreds and spectators in their thousands, with the race programme, as usual, featuring the mini riders, junior and women riders on Saturday.
The following day is reserved for senior motocross racing and this will be "shake off the cobwebs" time for all of the leading race teams as they build towards the start of the four-round 2019 nationals, starting in New Plymouth in February.
Some of the leading female riders expected to line up this weekend include Rotorua's Letitia Alabaster, Taupo's Nicolette Epps, Te Kuiti's Samantha Kelly, Nelson's Roma Edwards, Opunake's Taylar Rampton and Rotorua's Mel Patterson, to name a few.
The mini ranks, too, will no doubt feature a few recently crowned national champions, with youngsters such as Teddy Shaw, Wills Harvey, Jordan Coles, Charlie Schaw, Maz Parkes, Jacob Beattie, Hudson Swete and Travis Taylor sure to be among those who shine on Saturday.
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