World class riders front for national motocross round

CHALLENGER: Reporoa's Hadleigh Knight (HLR Husqvarna 250), sits third in the MX2 going into tomorrow's second round in Rotorua. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Motocross

It's all go for the Rotorua Motocross Club's hosting of round 2 of the New Zealand Motocross Championships at Horohoro tomorrow.

"We are hoping the weather's going to pick up before then, but we had the track all prepared before it rained and we haven't had to do any work on it since it rained, so that's good," said clerk of the course Dennis Phillips.

"There will maybe be a few water ruts that we might have to smooth over, but it's off road racing, so they don't need it too smooth, and they'll make it rough pretty quick.''

Phillips said hosting a round of the national championship brought with it an amount of prestige.

"These are the best riders from New Zealand and the best from Australia too," he said.

"Dean Ferris (Yamaha) won the Australian MX1championship last year and guys like him and Todd Waters (Honda) and [New Zealand's] Cody [Cooper], they've all ridden in Europe - these guys are world class."

Mount Maunganui's Cooper (Honda) spends many hours practising at the Horohoro track and that could give the defending champion an edge in the MX1 class.

"[Local riders] will definitely have an advantage, knowing the soil and the layout of the track."

Another looking to make local knowledge pay will be Reporoa's Hadleigh Knight (Husqvarna) who is third in the MX2 class after the first round of the championship two weeks ago in Timaru.

The 20-year-old is six points behind second placed Dylan Walsh (Yamaha), with leader and defending champion Hamish Harwood (KTM) a further 11 points ahead.

In the premier MX1 class, Cooper fended off Australian rival Ferris in Timaru, and the pair are separated at the top of the category by just five points as they prepare to line up again at Rotorua.

A former world championship campaigner, Ferris is expected to be on the charge.

Not too far behind Cooper and Ferris is Mount Maunganui's Rhys Carter, the Kawasaki man finishing inside the top three in all three MX1 races at Timaru to sensationally edge out Australian professionals Waters, Jesse Dobson (Honda) and Luke Styke (KTM).

Despite his privateer status, Carter did not look at all uncomfortable as he led the high-profile Australians.

"I was pretty happy with my results in Timaru, although I did expect it, to be fair," said the 27-year-old Carter.

"The first round at Timaru is always the toughest for me. It's a brutal track and can catch you out. I have not always gone well there and to come out of the day in one piece was awesome.

"The next three tracks in the series are my favourites," he said, hinting that more good results could be expected.

Tomorrow's race meeting will feature MX1, MX2, 125cc plus a support class. Potential top contenders, local rider John Phillips and Ben Townley, will both miss the meeting through injury, but Josh Palmer and Cam Negas will keep the Rotorua flag flying.

Practice and qualifying start at 8.30am with racing due to get under way around 11am. The track is off State Highway 30 at Horohoro.