The MX2 class, too, is bursting with talent, with 43-year-old Darryll King back to defend his crown and determined to fight off the advances of younger riders such as Luke Burkhart, the MX2 winner at Woodville, and Queenstown's Scotty Columb returning after two years.
Last year's national 125 champion, Ethan Martens, of Waitakere, also steps up to the MX2 class this year to add heat to the furnace, along with riders that include Kiwi internationals Kayne Lamont, of Mangakino, and John Phillips, of Rotorua.
It would be unwise to ignore riders such as Tauranga's Peter Broxholme, Hamilton's Jesse Wiki, Auckland's Shaun Fogarty and Cambridge riders Damien King and Kieran Leigh, all of whom are capable of winning in the MX2 class.
Where the National 125cc and National Under-21 crowns go is anyone's guess, but eyes will be focused on talented young riders such as Rotorua's Cameron Vaughan, Tauranga's Logan Blackburn, Stillwater's Aiden Kiff, Drury's Sean O'Connor, Karaka's Kurtis Lilly, Katikati's Garth Amrein, Whakatane's Peter Smit, Rotorua's Cam Negus, Tauranga's Scott Barr-Smith and Aucklanders Liam Underwood and Chase Smith, Atiamuri pair Hadleigh Knight and Dion Picard and Rangiora's Micah McGoldrick.
The series starts this Sunday in South Canterbury, before heading north for round two at Patetonga, near Morrinsville, on February 26.
It goes to Pukekohe on March 4, and the final round will be in Taupo on March 18.
