Motocross: NZ's best riders coming to Bay

It is one of the biggest events of the summer and it's just around the corner - the big annual Whakatane Summercross.

As well as attracting the cream of New Zealand motocross racers each December to the Awakaponga circuit, near Matata, the Honda-sponsored event will again act as a springboard for riders heading into the busy part of the season.

The Whakatane Summercross will be held this Saturday and Sunday leading into the four-round New Zealand Motocross Championships in February and March.

Kiwi international Josh Coppins, a rider who has been favoured to win the Honda Whakatane Summercross in past years, retired from full-time racing in 2012, but he may have a big influence on who wins this weekend.

Coppins manages one of the race teams who will be out to stop the current favourites. He will send out Queenstown's Scott Columb into battle on his behalf, pitting him against such talented riders as Mount Maunganui's national MX1 champion Cody Cooper and Taupo's MX Fest competition winner Brad Groombridge.

Former Opotiki man Cooper is on the comeback from injury but he is already showing signs he is approaching winning form again.

Riding for The Honda Shop Racing Team, the 31-year-old has great support to make winning possible and he'll be joined by teammates John and Michael Phillips (Rotorua) in the MX1 (450cc) and MX2 (250cc) classes respectively.

The MX2 class is also bulging with hot talent, Mangakino's national MX2 champion Kayne Lamont is on the comeback from injury. He is making good progress to full recovery, having won the class at the recent Auckland Motocross Championships.

Ohaupo's Campbell Bailey, Te Puke's Logan Blackburn, Dunedin's Campbell King, Hamilton's Josiah Natzke, Atiamuri's Hadleigh Knight, Masterton's Bjarne Frederiksen and Whakatane's Mitch Rees also add star power to the entry list, which reads like a who's who of New Zealand's motocross elite.

"This event will be the first big hit-out of the season to feature all the major teams," Bay of Plenty Motorcycle Club spokesman Tony Rees said. "It is a great time of year for racing and, fingers crossed, the weather should be fine."

The Honda Whakatane Summercross is a two-day affair, with minis and juniors racing on Saturday and the seniors, women and veterans racing on Sunday.