Motocross: Injuries see title hopes crash

Mangakino's Kayne Lamont is unable to defend his national MX2 title this season.

The high-profile Altherm JCR Yamaha race team is putting on a brave face after injuries claimed two of their New Zealand motocross title contenders in rapid succession.

Mangakino's defending national MX2 (250cc) champion Kayne Lamont crashed while training at Tokoroa at the weekend, breaking bones in his hand, finally putting paid to a campaign that had perhaps already been on unsteady ground because he had not fully recovered after crashing heavily at the Whakatane Summercross in December.

No sooner had Altherm JCR Yamaha racing team boss Josh Coppins digested that disappointing news when Australian import Jacob Wright also crashed to the sidelines during the Gold Nuggets Motocross in Westland at the weekend.

Wright injured his shoulder in the spill and has returned to Australia to recover - his Kiwi assault over before it had really begun.

But Coppins sees no reason to panic, with Queenstown's Scott Columb in top form on the Yamaha YZ450F and Australian Jay Wilson looking strong on the YZ250F.

"We are still in the hunt for a title or two and looking at focusing on the good things," said Coppins.

Wright's teammate at CDR Yamaha in Australia, 26-year-old Melbourne rider Kade Mosig, has arrived in New Zealand to step in to replace Wright in the MX1 class for the Altherm JCR Yamaha team and he will also be a solid contender.

"It's disappointing for the brand and for our sponsors, but that's racing. I perhaps know better than most what it's like to see a campaign ruined by injury and I feel for them," said Coppins, a two-time former motocross world No2.

"It has been a tough road for Kayne to suffer two serious injuries back-to-back like this and he's now lost a whole year. I'll be doing some work with him later this year and he'll come back stronger.

"What's happened is not ideal for us because the New Zealand Motocross Championships start this weekend [in Taranaki] and Kade has not raced in a while, not since the Australian nationals, and he has not seen any of the New Zealand tracks before, except when he raced at Rotorua a couple of years ago.

"But this continues to strengthen our link with the CDR Yamaha team in Australia, so that is good too."

Lamont said he was naturally disappointed. "I definitely felt I was on the pace to be a contender again this year."

He underwent surgery this week and had three "very long" pins inserted into the wrist.

Lamont anticipates being back on the race track before the annual MX Fest in Taupo in October, by then a full member of the Altherm JCR Yamaha race team.

"I have not heard what is going to happen with my ride in the United Kingdom later in the year, but I am determined to come back fitter, stronger and faster than ever."