This year's New Zealand Motocross Championships could be one of the closest-fought in the history of the sport in this country.
With many Kiwi internationals staying at home or returning from overseas, assignments to contest this season's Demon Energy-sponsored series, the calibre of talent due to line up at roundone near Timaru this weekend (October 11) is impressive.
The series runs for four rounds this season, set to wrap up near New Plymouth on November 15, and it is likely the chase for titles will go right down to the wire.
The defending champion in both the 500cc and 125cc classes, Cambridge's Damien King, is determined to defend his two titles but he will have national 250cc champion Daryl Hurley, of Hawera, to contend with in the big bike class this time around.
Joining King and Hurley in the 500cc class will be Mount Maunganui's Mason Phillips and Christchurch's Justin McDonald. Phillips is returning from a successful stint of racing in the Canadian nationals this season and McDonald tasted racing at the top level in the United States earlier this season.
Mount Maunganui's Cody Cooper, who finished an impressive eighth in the US nationals this season, is also expected to front up on a 450cc machine at Timaru and he perhaps rates as the title favourite.
Riders such as Christchurch's Hayden McKay, Wellington's Jayden Jessup, Wellington's Barry Morris and Auckland's Blake Gillard will also be worth watching.
With Hurley not defending his 250cc title, it could be furious in the quarter-litre class, with Palmerston North's Rhys Carter, Queenstown's Scotty Columb, Rotorua's Michael Phillips, Tauranga's Peter Broxholme, Gisborne's Matt Hunt and Taupo's Nick Saunders among those who are likely to feature.
Each of these riders has international racing experience, Columb and Phillips returning from their respective campaigns in the United Kingdom and also having represented New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in Italy last weekend.
Waitakere's Ethan Martens, Taupo's Cameron Dillon, Cambridge's Kieran Leigh, Mangakino's Kayne Lamont and Wellington brothers Henry and Tommy Madams also come highly rated.
