Motocross champ dates announced
The dates and venues for the 2021NewZealand Motocross Championships were announced this weekby the sport’s governing body here, MotorcyclingNewZealand.
The bignews tocomeout of the announcement is thatNew Zealand’s biggest stand-alone motocross— the traditional HondaNewZealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville— will not be a stand-alone event in 2021 because it willnowalso incorporate the first round of four in the national championship series.
It is already ahugeweekend every year, but it will be even moremassive next season, two days of racing scheduled for January 30-31 and with even moremotivation to be there.
In addition to the Woodville event holdingGPtrophy status, just as it has every year, but it will also kick off theNewZealand senior championship title chase for the MX1, MX2and MX125 classes, as well as staging the first of four rounds of the inaugural 2TCup(for two-stroke bikes) and the first of two rounds for the Women’sCup.
“The majority ofNewZealand motocross riders compete at Woodville each year and, becausewewere uncertain what might be happening with the Covid-19 pandemic and with us wanting to keepdownthe costs for riders, wehave decided to combine these events,” said MotorcyclingNewZealand motocross commissioner Ray Broad. “Unfortunately there are no South Island rounds on the NewZealand Motocross Championships calendar, howeverweare resurrecting the travel subsidy scheme for South Island riderswhocommit to two ormorerounds. It will be paid out on a pro-rata basis,” he said.
“Wewill be working closely with South Island Cubs to ensure a return in 2022.”
After the Woodville opener, NewZealand Motocross Championship rounds follow at Rotorua on Sunday, February 21, with round three at Pukekohe on Saturday, March 20 (with a junior and mini open event on Sunday, March 21) and the fourth and final round at Taupo on Sunday, March 28.
Broad said an Under-19 Championship will again be run withinMX2and would be awarded to the best-placed rider aged under19 competing in the MX2class, aswehave the past two seasons.
The excitingnews is thenew 2TCupclass.
This is for the 2-stroke bikes that compete withinMX1and nowensuring they are recognised for their achievements.
“For example, Aucklander Blake Gillard finished fifth overall riding a 250cc two-stroke bike against the 350cc and 450ccMX1 bike riders in the 2019 series and, if the 2TCuphad been in place at that time, he would have been the winner of the 2T Cup.
“There will be noMX3nonchampionship support class
races run at the Woodville round, but there would be at the three rounds that follow and this year it will be a series, with the top riders recognised at the prizegiving after Taupo.
“Weare looking forward to an exciting season, with something for everyone.
“More details on the series and the classes will be released over the coming weeks,” said Broad.