WORTH WAITING FOR? | Bikesportnz

It has been a year in the making but certainly worth the wait.

Motorcycling New Zealand’s bid to reposition the national motocross championship season at the beginning of the calendar year meant no New Zealand Motocross Championship titles were given out in 2010.

But, starting this weekend at Pleasant Point, just outside Timaru, the 2011 Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championships will spark the sport’s showcase competition back into life.

Sunday’s racing at Timaru will be the first of four rounds scheduled this season, with events to follow at Patetonga, just outside Morrinsville, the following weekend (February 27); at Rotorua on March 20 and, finally, at New Plymouth on March 27.

The three champions from the 2009 season – Christchurch’s Justin McDonald (MX1), Rotorua’s Michael Phillips (MX2), Cambridge’s Damien King (125cc) and Waitakere’s Ethan Martens (under-21) – will each be keen to make a mark again in 2011, although two of these riders will not be defending their respective titles.

McDonald will remain on the 450cc Honda and attempt to defend his MX1 crown, but he’ll have fellow Honda rider Phillips stepping up to challenge him this time around.

Yamaha’s King, meanwhile, steps up to the MX2 class, leaving his new Yamaha team-mate Martens to try again for the 125cc title and, possibly, to defend his under-21 title at the same time.

Any number of riders could be expected to contend for titles this season, although former Grand Prix star Josh Coppins (Yamaha), of Motueka, perhaps rates as warm MX1 class favourite. Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (Suzuki), Waitakere’s Shaun Fogarty (KTM), Hamilton’s Hayden Clark (Yamaha) and Masterton’s Mason Wilkie (Yamaha) also look sharp for MX1 honours.

In the MX2 class, expect King to rate among the leaders, along with his elder brother Darryll King (Yamaha, visiting Australians Daniel McCoy (Suzuki) and Cody Mackie (Honda), Taupo’s Cameron Dillon (Honda), Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont (Suzuki), Tauranga’s Peter Broxholme (Honda), Hawera’s Daryl Hurley (Suzuki), Taupo’s Brad Groombridge (Suzuki), Wairarapa’s Luke Burkhart (KTM), Tauranga’s Rhys Carter (Suzuki), Taupo’s Nick Saunders (Kawasaki) and Wellington’s Jayden Jessup (Yamaha), to name just a few.

In the 125cc (and under-21) competition, Martens may have his work cut out fending off the unwelcome attentions of riders such as dual-class rider Fogarty, Tauranga’s Scott Barr-Smith (KTM), Atiamuri’s Dion Picard (Suzuki) and Wanganui’s Tom Managh (Suzuki) and Kaukapakapa’s Josh Jack (Suzuki) for the overall prize.

Be in to win free tickets from www.DemonEnergy.co.nz

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