Motocross titles up for grabs

Having had 15 months to enjoy their No1 status, New Zealand's motocross champions put their titles on the line starting this weekend at Timaru.
The New Zealand motocross nationals were last staged in late 2009, with Motorcycling NZ then deciding to switch the timing of the series to February-March to better prepare riders heading to overseas campaigns.
Round one of the nationals is at Timaru this Sunday, with round two at the Patetonga track in Thames Valley seven days later.
The new timing of the series is perfect for the likes of Suzuki team leader Cody Cooper (Papamoa), who will continue his summer-long battle with Yamaha's Josh Coppins in the MX1 (450cc) class.
Cooper says his preparation has gone well, topped off on Sunday with a win at the Valley Champs event staged at the Patetonga track.
"I feel good," said Cooper. "It will be good to keep on racing against Josh but there are other riders who will be right up there as well, like Michael Phillips and Justin McDonald."
Christchurch-based McDonald narrowly beat Cooper to the MX1 crown in 2009, while Phillips, who now splits his time between Rotorua and Mt Maunganui, steps up to MX1 as the reigning MX2 champ.
Phillips made an early impact on the MX1 class when he won the Whakatane Summercross event just after Christmas.
Making a return from a shoulder injury is Mt Maunganui's Mason Phillips (Kawasaki), who rode to fourth in the 2009 series.
Phillips crashed at the opening round of the Supercross nationals at Tokoroa and needed his collarbone screwed and plated.
"I won't be 100 per cent bike fit for the first two rounds but my plan is to salvage as many points as I can from the first two rounds, then ride as much as possible in the month off before the third round."
With defending champion Phillips moving up to MX1 and runner-up Scott Columb having recently undergone knee surgery, the No3 Tauranga's Peter Broxholme earned last year makes him the highest-ranked rider in the MX2 (250cc) class.
Broxholme is riding for the Botany Honda team this year.
"For a while I thought the field could be a bit thin this year but Woodville [the NZ GP] was a good gauge and there were a lot of good riders," said Broxholme."
"The nationals always have a unknown factor. You never know what's going to happen at the first round, then things start to sort themselves out."
Back in action for the first time since mid-2010 is Mt Maunganui's Rhys Carter, who switches from a 17-year career on Kawasaki to join the MotoGB Suzuki effort.
The combined 125cc and Youth (under-21) class sees young Tauranga racer Scott Barr-Smith a strong chance riding a KTM.
The Whakatane Summercross - riding a 350cc KTM in the MX1 class - was his first motocross since a shoulder operation in July and the 19-year-old followed up with a second placing the 125cc class at the Woodville GP in late January.
Also contesting the 125cc and Youth classes will be 17-year-old Te Puke racer Logan Blackburn on his Yamaha.
Still in contention
Tauranga BMW Superbike racer Sloan Frost remains in a tight battle for a podium finish in the NZ Superbike Champs, in spite of a weekend of mixed fortunes at the Ruapuna circuit near Christchurch.
The Ruapuna event was round three of the Superbike Series and doubled as the NZ Grand Prix meeting.
Frost battled with his M1 Motorsport BMW S1000RR in qualifying in hot weather.
"The rear tyre was just falling apart and I was a second slower than our practice times and back in ninth on the grid," said Frost.
He moved up to fifth in Sunday's opening race until a broken handlebar required a pit stop.
"It must be stresses that are particular to the Ruapuna track but the handlebar moved back against the tank and I had no brakes," said Frost.
Rain began to fall as the Grand Prix started, with most of the riders on slick tyres. Frost battled with Hamilton rider Nick Cole throughout the 15-lapper for third spot.
"It was really difficult in those conditions. Nick got by me on the last lap after we banged fairings and ended up running off the track as well. It will look great on television."
Frost is now fifth in the Superbike Championship standings but only two points behind James Smith (Christchurch) and Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth), who are tied in third. Hamilton's Andrew Stroud (Suzuki) won both races at Ruapuna and extended his advantage over Australian rival Robbie Bugden as he attempts to win a ninth national title.
Double header
The Waihi Beach Dirt Track is busy this weekend with a racing double header. The club's regular oval-track racing classes are in action on Saturday, followed by the first visit from Motorsport BOP competitors on Sunday, bringing car club and rally cars to the track for a pursuit-style autocross event.
Summer Slam2
Taupo International Dragway hosts its Summer Slam2 event this Sunday, a repeat of the New Year event. The event sees the second round of the 1/8th-mile Top Doorslammer Shootout, plus full quarter-mile action for Top Alcohol, Competition, Motorcycle and street-car classes and another demonstration by Top Fuel motorcycle racer Athol Williams.