Motocross: Trio are flying high to secure top honours

Mangakino's Kayne Lamont (Husqvarna TC250) leads the MX2 (250cc) class heading into the final round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships in Taupo. Photo/Andy Mc Gechan

It is the last throw of the dice for motocross title hopefuls in Taupo this weekend.

It would be nothing short of sensational or perhaps disastrous, depending on your point of view, if Cody Cooper (Mt Maunganui), Kayne Lamont (Mangakino) and Josiah Natzke (Hamilton) were not crowned national champions on Saturday.

The trio are well ahead in the MX1 (450cc), MX2 (250cc) and 125cc divisions of the New Zealand Motocross Championships.

Like last year, the four-round series will wrap up at the Digger McEwen Motocross Park on the outskirts of Taupo.

The only difference this time around is that the winners of all three championship categories seem to have been determined already.

Cooper, Lamont and Natzke each hold a big advantage up their sleeves - although nothing can be taken for granted in the brutal sport of motocross.

Cooper (Honda) leads Scottish former grand prix star Billy MacKenzie (Yamaha) by a whopping 37 points.

Lamont (Husqvarna) leads Dargaville's Hamish Dobbyn (KTM) by a massive 38 points.

Natzke (KTM) leads Aitiamuri's Hadleigh Knight (KTM) by a huge 35-point margin.

With 25 points on offer for each race win, and only three races remaining for each class on Saturday, the class leaders are in a strong position.

However, they are not unbeatable.

A crash, a flat tyre, an electrical problem, a blown engine or a fuel glitch could see those title bids quickly unravel and championship hopefuls will plan to keep the pressure on.

Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Suzuki), Australian KTM rider Kirk Gibbs and Rotorua's Michael Phillips (Honda) will each be applying stress to Cooper and MacKenzie in the MX1 class.

Meanwhile, Australian Jay Wilson (Yamaha), Rotorua's John Phillips (Honda) and 2013 MX2 champion Scotty Columb (Yamaha) will no doubt turn the blowtorch on Lamont and Dobbyn in the MX2 class.

Natzke and Knight will be aware that Te Puke's Logan Blackburn (Yamaha), Morrinsville's Beau Yeandle (Yamaha) and Tauranga's Ryan Metz (Yamaha) will be gunning for them in the 125cc class.

Racing gets under way about 10am on Saturday.