Rotorua to host round of NZ MX championships

Riders in action at round three of the New Zealand Motocross Championships in Rotorua on Sunday. 13 March 2016 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser

Rotorua Motorcycle Club will host one of the four rounds of the 2017 New Zealand Motocross Championships.

The final round will take place in Taupo.

The schedule for the 2017 New Zealand Motocross Championships takes in four contrasting types of terrain to test the country's elite dirt bike racers throughout February and March.

The four-round series will kick off near Timaru on February 5, with rounds to follow in Rotorua (February 19) and the Manawatu (March 12), with the final round in Taupo on Saturday, March 25.

Rotorua's venue, on steep farmland about 25km from the city, heading towards Atiamuri, has been a regular on the nationals calendar, the spectacular course there a favourite with spectators for the viewing that it offers.

"We are thrilled to be able to finally get this sorted," said Motorcycling New Zealand motocross commissioner Howard Lilly, from Karaka.

"It has been a hard job to get the dates worked out," he said.

"We are now looking ahead to a brilliant season. We are thrilled with the four clubs and the venues they are providing."

Taupo's popular pumice track is valued as a true all-weather facility and the event will be held there on a Saturday, rather than the traditional Sunday, to enable the motocross community to celebrate their finals prizegiving in the town on Saturday night.

Several international riders are again expected to race the New Zealand nationals, with the Kiwi summer offering a great opportunity for their off-season training.