Motorsport: Man suffers serious spinal injuries during motocross event

The Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter was dispatched to Lake Matahina, 30km southwest of Whakatane, following the crash today. File photo / NZME.

A man suffered serious spinal injuries when he crashed a motocross bike into a tree while taking part in a Bay of Plenty trail ride event.

The Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter was dispatched to Lake Matahina, 30km southwest of Whakatane, following the crash today.

The helicopter crew flew a 56-year-old man from Waimana, southeast of Whakatane, directly to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.

In a separate incident, a 46-year-old man was injured when he fell from his bike during a motocross event in Taupo.

The Taupo-based Greenlea rescue helicopter was dispatched to Kuratau, on the southwestern shore of the lake, at 3pm.

The man was stabilised at the scene before being flown to Rotorua Hospital for further treatment.