Quarter-litre bikes pack a punch
Don’t let the numbers fool you.
The engines in the MX2 class may be only 250cc (a quarter of a litre), but don’t make the mistake of comparing them to your 1.5 litre family car – these motors pack enough punch to rip your arms straight out of their sockets.
The MX2 category has the potential to steal the thunder at this season’s 56th annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville this weekend.
Many fans will no doubt focus on the action unfolding in the MX1 (450cc) class where Mount Maunganui’s national MX1 champion Cody Cooper is among those predicted to hog the spotlight as he attempts to fend off the challenges of fellow Kiwi internationals Kayne Lamont, of Mangakino, Tauranga’s Ben Townley, Taupo’s Brad Groombridge, Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter, Takapuna’s Hamish Harwood and Rotorua’s John Phillips.
The Kiwis in the MX1 class will also be locked in battle with Australian stars Dean Ferris, Todd Waters, Jed Beaton, Luke Styke and Daniel Banks.
However, it is in the smaller bike categories, the 250cc and 125cc classes, where the biggest boilovers could occur.
The senior MX2 class at Woodville will again be extremely hot national MX2 champion Harwood, Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke, Otago’s Courtney Duncan, Christchurch’s Dylan Walsh, Reporoa’s Hadleigh Knight, Te Puke’s Logan Blackburn, Ngatea’s Ben Broad, Cambridge’s Trent Collins, Taupo’s Cohen Chase, Feilding’s Tony Cvitanovich, Rangiora’s Micah Mcgoldrick, Waitakere’s Ethan Martens and Tauranga’s Josh Tredinnick the main contenders.
Duncan won this class at Woodville last year and she has the ability to do it again this weekend, at what will be one of her last races in New Zealand before she heads overseas to tackle the women’s motocross world championships in Indonesia in March.
The class is pumped up this year also with the arrival of Australian stars Chandler Burns, Cody Dyce, Morgan Fogarty, Wilson Todd and Mason Semmons, not to mention a handful of other Kiwi juniors who have stepped up the grade in recent months such as Eketahuna’s Charlie Richardson, Taupo’s Jake Tomblin and Hawera’s Nick Hornby.
Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis, Taihape’s Hayden Smith, Karaka’s Kurtis Lilly and Australian Bailey Malkiewicz are some of the standouts among the 125cc class entrants.
Racing over the two days at Woodville caters for minis, juniors, women and veterans, with the novelty river race on Sunday.