It’s going to be a long, hot summer for the nation’s elite motocross racers.

This year’s Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championship series kicked off its high-flying action near Timaru on Sunday and when the engines were finally shut down late in the afternoon, it was last year’s MX2 champion, Hawera’s Daryl Hurley (Suzuki), who had emerged as the top dog in the glamour MX1 class.

With three rounds to go to complete the series, it’s too early to make predictions but the Taranaki man (pictured above) has certainly revealed himself as the man to beat this season.

Hurley finished 2-1-1 in Sunday’s three races, while his nearest challenger, Christchurch Honda rider Justin McDonald, came home 1-2-2. Just three points separate these two riders at the top of the standings and it’s likely to be a tight battle to the end.

“I’m stoked with the results,” said Hurley. “Three 30-minute races in this heat was pretty tough but the conditions were perfect. They had a great track watering system.

“I had to settle for second in the first race because my goggle roll-offs broke and visibility was a problem for me. I won the next two races pretty comfortably though.”

It was similar in the MX2 and 125cc classes, where Rotorua’s Michael Phillips (Honda) and Waitakere’s Ethan Martens (KTM) respectively showed up as the riders everyone else will need to beat to take the honours this season.

Phillips finished 1-2-1 in his three MX2 races while his nearest threat, Queenstown’s Scott Columb (Suzuki) came home 2-1-3.

Just five points separate these two men, both of whom were team-mates when they represented New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in Italy just a week ago. For Phillips and Columb to shake off the adverse affects of jet-lag and still perform at this level on Sunday is testament to their fitness and strength.

In the 125cc class (which also incorporates the Under-21 title), few could match Martens. The teenager raced to a third and two wins and has established a three-point lead over defending champion Damien King (Yamaha) as well as building a 15-point lead over the rider in second spot for Under-21 honours, Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont (Yamaha).

“It was very warm, about 25 degrees, and it was very close racing in all classes,” said Motorcycling New Zealand motocross commissioner Mike McLeod.

Round two is set for Rotorua next weekend.

RESULTS from round one of four:

MX1 class:

1. Daryl Hurley (Hawera, Suzuki) 72 points;

2. Justin McDonald (Christchurch, Honda) 69;

3. Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui, Suzuki) 54;

4. Brad Groombridge (Taupo, Suzuki) 53;

5. Mason Phillips (Mount Maunganui, Kawasaki) 52.

MX2 class:

1. Michael Phillips (Rotorua, Honda) 72 points;

2. Scott Columb (Queenstown, Suzuki) 67;

3. Peter Broxholme (Tauranga, Honda) 62;

4. Cameron Dillon (Taupo, Honda) 47;

5. Jesse Wiki (Hamilton, Honda) 43.

125cc class:

1 Ethan Martens (Waitakere, KTM) 70 points;

2 Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha) 67;

3 Hayden McKay (Christchurch, KTM) 62;

4 Mike Cotter (Cambridge, Kawasaki) 56;

5 Cam Negus (Rotorua, Yamaha) 45.

Under-21 class:

1. Ethan Martens (Waitakere, KTM) 75 points;

2. Kayne Lamont (Mangakino, Yamaha) 60;

3. Tom Managh (Wanganui, Suzuki) 58;

4. James Ainsworth (Auckland, Suzuki) 48;

5. Isaiah McGoldrick (Rangiora, KTM) 47.

2009 DEMON NEW ZEALAND MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Round one, October 11, 2009, Timaru

Round two, October 18, 2009, Rotorua

Round three, November 8, 2009, Patetonga

Round four, November 15, 2009, New Plymouth.

RESULTS from round one of four:

MX1 class:

1              Daryl Hurley              72      22     25     25

2              Justin McDonald        69      25     22     22

3              Cody Cooper              54      20     16     18

4              Brad Groombridge      53      18     15     20

5              Mason Phillips            52      16     20     16

6              Shaun Fogarty            38      5      18     15

7              Shannon Hewetson     35      13     10     12

8              Grant Van der Drift     31      9      12     10

9              Damien King              29      15     14     —

10             Luke Temple              29      7      9      13

MX2 class:

1              Michael Phillips          72     25         22         25

2               Scott Columb             67     22         25         20

3               Peter Broxholme        62     20         20         22

4               Cameron Dillon           47     11         18         18

5               Jesse Wiki                 43     18         13         12

6               Nick Saunders           43     13         15         15

7               Jayden Jessup           40     12         14         14

8               Kieran Leigh             38     14         8         16

9              Darryl King        32     16         16         0

10              John Phillips             31     15         3         13

125cc class:

1              Ethan Martens         70     20         25         25

2              Damien King          67     25         20         22

3              Hayden McKay       62     22         22         18

4               Mike Cotter            56     18         18         20

5              Cam Negus            45     16         14         15

6               Kayne Lamont       43     13         16         14

7               Tom Managh          41     15         13         13

8              James Ainsworth             36         12         12         12

9               Michael McCarthy     32     11         10         11

10              Isaiah McGoldrick    31.053         0.053         15         16

Under-21 class (incorporated within the 125cc class):

1               Ethan Martens            75     25         25         25

2               Kayne Lamont          60     18         22         20

3               Tom Managh             58     22         18         18

4               James Ainsworth                48     16         16         16

5               Isaiah McGoldrick       47     5         20         22

6               Michael McCarthy       44     15         14         15

7               Roydon White           42     20         8         14

8               Joshua Jack               40     14         13         13

9               Elijah Manson             35     13         11         11

10              Joel Hansen             33     9         12         12

Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com