Motorcross: Hat-trick hero Phillips tears up the champs

John Phillips on his way to a hat-trick of MX1 class wins near Te Kuiti on Sunday. PHOTO/ANDY McGECHAN BIKESPORTNZ.COM

Rotorua's John Phillips means business.

The 21-year-old Kiwi international (Honda CRF450) is making a good start to his season, as he builds towards the national championships in February and March.

He was at his scintillating best at the annual two-day Waikato Motocross Championships, on the outskirts of Te Kuiti at the weekend, running away to an impressive hat-trick of wins in the premier MX1 class.

Riding for The Honda Shop Racing Team, the farm worker didn't have it all his own way and had to fight for his wins, with fast-starting Waitakere rider Ethan Martens (Altherm JCR Yamaha YZ450F) keeping Phillips honest at the front but, once in clear air, the Rotorua rider seemed unstoppable.

"I always enjoy racing against Ethan. He's a safe rider and does nothing silly," he said.

"I made a few mistakes today but managed to claw my way back from third in race one to take the lead and the win. I had a poor start in race two and then had mud caught up in my rear brakes.

"I think I managed to pressure [race leader] Ethan Martens into making a mistake and he crashed on the final lap, allowing me to take another win.

"I tried a few different lines in the third and final race and put a bit of a gap between me and Ethan.

"The bike was brilliant and the Pirelli tyres hooked up perfectly. I'm really looking forward to my next race, probably the Auckland Motocross Championships [near Pukekohe on December 7]."

Phillips' elder brother Michael, a two-time former national motocross champion, slipped into a "fill-in role, keeping the seat warm" on the team's Honda CRF250 in the MX2 class while team regular Aaron Wiltshier, of Tauranga, recovers from injury sustained the previous weekend.

Despite having had little race time recently, Michael still impressed, finishing third overall in the MX2 class on Sunday. He was just two points ahead of rapidly-improving fellow Rotorua rider Scotty Canham.

Otorohanga's Hayden Kanters left his best until last when he won the final MX2 class race of the weekend. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to gobble up the points lead built by Hamilton international Josiah Natzke (CMR Red Bull KTM), who won the class by 10 points from Kanters.

Taihape's Sarah Elwin (Bike Torque BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ125) won the women's division.