With the help from the four host clubs, new regulations have been set for the upcoming 2010 New Zealand Supercross Championships.

This involves the reclassification of the junior capacities and new naming of all the classes.

Great news is that Kiwi ace Ben Townley (the 2004 World MX2 champ and 2007 USA AMA East Coast Lites Supercross champ) will be competing in the series.

With four rounds this is equally the biggest series seen in NZ supercross.

There will be some training days at the venues starting this month with the exception of Manukau which is a one-off purpose-built track. More details on the club websites.

Only two months to the best supercross series in NZ history.

Yours in supercross, MNX SX commissioners Neil Ritchie and Bryan Davidson.

The Sky’s the limit!!

2010 MNZ NEW ZEALND SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SUPPLEMENTARY REGS –

EVENTS & DATES –

Rd 1 – Timaru             Wednesday Jan 6^th–             www.scmcc.org.nz              

Rd 2 – Motueka           Sunday Jan 10^th www.nmcc.org.nz

Rd 3 – Tokoroa            Saturday Jan 16^th www.superx.co.nz

Rd 4 – Manukau Saturday Jan 23^rd.               www.supercross.co.nz

CLASSES – This is changes from last year. New class names, combination of junior classes, change of capacity for SX Lites class and removal of enduro bike capacities. There are now 4 classes.

Juniors – 2 classes-

Junior Lites – 11-16yrs. 60cc to 85cc 2 stroke. 100cc to 150cc 4 stroke.

Junior 250 – 12-16yrs. 100cc to 125cc 2 stroke. 151cc to 250cc 4 stroke.

Senior – 2 classes –

Supercross Lites – Up to 125cc 2 stroke MX. Up to 250cc 4 stroke.

Supercross Open – 126cc to Open 2 stroke MX. 251cc to Open 4 stroke.

PRACTICES – There will be 2 practises for each class.

QUALIFYING RACES – There will be a minimum of 1 qualifying races per event. The method to select the final 15 riders for the champion races may vary from event to event.

CHAMPIONSHIP RACES – 3 per event. All score points.

MINI / JUNIOR TRANSITION – Supercross allows the same rule as motocross to allow eligible mini riders to ride up into the Junior Lites class only. This does not give automatic entry to the starting field. Mini riders have to qualify along side all other Junior Lites riders. Covered by rule 15-10-4 – MNZ Manual of Motorcycle Sport.

JUNIOR / SENIOR TRANSITION – Supercross has the same rule as motocross to allow the eligible junior competitors to ride up into the senior Supercross Lites class only. This does not give automatic entry to the starting field.  Junior riders have to qualify along side all other Supercross Lites riders. Covered by rule 16-9  – Manual of Motorcycle Sport.

TRAINING – We are encouraging the participation in training and practice days prior to the event. Previously there has been a lack of open training sessions but this year all events and venues will have training times available to all riders, irrespective of whether they are riding in the 2010 MNZ Supercross champs.

PREVIOUS TRACK TIME – Rule 15-15-4 does not apply to Supercross. In fact we encourage experience on the tracks by attending training and practise days leading up to the day of the event.

STARTING GATE NUMBERS – We are adopting a rule which will bring the number of competitors in any heats or finals to 15 for all tracks irrespective of track size or the number of start gates. This is to standardise the series and put all events on equal status.

QUALIFYING – The method of qualifying will be announced at riders briefing at each event. This will be dependant of the number of entries per class per event. The method of qualifying could be different for each class at each event. All classes at all events will have a maximum of 15 starters in heats and finals.

There are two options to determine qualifying –

1 – Races where the placing of the riders determine the qualifying places.

2 – Electronic timing results where the fastest lap determines the qualifying places.

PROMOTERS CHOICE – The organisers have the right to add one rider into any class final that have not qualified through the previous qualifying process.

NON QUALIFIERS – There will be two non qualifiers classes at each event. One class is for non qualifying juniors and one class for non qualifying seniors. These non qualifying classes will be limited to 15 riders.

The riders that do not meet this requirement and are not reserve riders will take no further part in the meeting. There will be no entry refunds for not qualifying as the non qualifying riders have had two practises and and two qualifying races before being eliminated.

LAST CHANCE QUALIFYING (LCQ) – All classes with more than 15 entries will have two qualifying races and at least one LCQ given all riders two chances to qualify.

RESERVES RIDERS – The championship and non qualifiers classes can have 2 reserve riders. These are the next two riders that missed their respective top 15 final. These riders can line up at the same time as the main classes. If a rider does not make the start line in time, the organisers can draw a reserve rider in order of qualifying position to take a place on the 15 gate start. The reserve riders are eligible to ride in their predetermined class.

NON QUALIFIER RACES – there will be a minimum of two races for the non qualifying classes.

STARTING BIKES – If as a result of stalling or crashing and a bike engine is dead the rider must get his bike to the side of the track and out of the way of the racing line prior to attempting to restart the bike.

FINALS STARTING NUMBERS – The organisers reserve the right to alter the final 15 starters due to rider performance and or track size.  Just finishing a practice, qualifying or LCQ does not give automatic right to the championship final.

SUPPORT CLASSES – Support classes may be run. These will be advised in the supplementary regs per event. The clubs reserve the right to combine these support classes with the non qualifiers races.

POINTS SCORING – With a maximum of 15 riders in the championship classes ——championship classes we will use a new 15 point scoring system. This starts 1^st – 20, 2^nd – 17, 3^rd – 15, 4^th – 13, 5th – 11, 6^th – 10, 7^th – 9, 8^th – 8, 9^th – 7, 10^th – 6, 11^th – 5, 12^th – 4, 13^th – 3, 14^th – 2 and 15^th – 1 point.

The South Island Champs are being hosted by Nelson on Saturday January 9^th at the Rat Track,  the day prior to the MNZ Champs (Round 2).

Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com