BATTLE OF THE CLUBS | Bikesportnz

The host Taupo Motorcycle Club won this year’s third annual Battle of the Clubs motocross on Saturday but it was the Tauranga team’s Cody Cooper and Rotorua A team’s Dion Picard who were the stand-out individuals at this Motocross of Nations fundraiser event.

BikesportNZ.com’s Kayne Lamont, riding for the South Waikato team, dominated the MX2 class and other riders to shine included Pukekohe A’s Brandon Tipene, Taupo’s Hadleigh Knight, Kapimana’s Josh Bartosh (pictured right), Gold Coast’s Billy Frank, Tauranga’s Rhys Carter, Nelson’s Nathan Clare, Taranaki’s Daryl Hurley, Gold Coast’s Bjarne Fredericksen , Bay of Plenty’s Darren Capill and Taranaki’s Nick Hornby, to name a few.

Cooper and Picard were the only riders to finish the day unbeaten on Saturday.

Picard won the Junior 250/125 combined race and the Junior 250-85cc combined race as well.

Cooper won the MX1/veterans combined race and the MX1/MX2 combined race, on both occasions followed across the line by Hurley.

It was enough to give his club the bragging rights for winning the senior section of the weekend but, unfortunately, was not quite enough to win the distinction of Battle of the Clubs outright winners, the honour instead going to the host Taupo Motorcycle Club.

The Taupo club comprised Knight, Nick Saunders, Bevan Weal, Hamish Stenning, Aaron Wiltshier and Cohen Chase.

Approximately $9000 was raised on the day, that cash going towards New Zealand’s three-rider entry into this season’s Motocross of Nations in Belgium.

The Battle of the Clubs event was sponsored this year by Kiwi Rider magazine, the Taupo Motorcycle Club, First Choice Engravers, the Knight family, the Townley family, Bevan Bartlett, Medic Events, MX Timing, BikesportNZ.com and commentator Neil Ritchie.