The big annual Labour Weekend Motocross Extravaganza in Taupo looms large as the first major hit-out of the new season for New Zealand’s motocross elite.

World, national and provincial titles count for nothing, international credentials are expected to be challenged and past loyalties go out the window as the new season brings forward fresh and exciting match-ups this Saturday and Sunday.

Recent Suzuki Six-hour co-winner Scotty Columb (Suzuki) has been fighting wars on several fronts in the past few weeks and, after winning the marathon cross-country race (while teamed with Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny), he then quickly changed tack, crossing the Tasman and changing bike models to battle at the opening round of the Australian Supercross Championships last weekend.

He barely has time to catch his breath as he switches to a third motorcycling code, motocross, to race at Taupo’s Digger McEwen Motocross Park this weekend.

The Queenstown ace is expected to go head-to-head with current national MX2 and just-crowned world veterans’ motocross champion Darryll King (Yamaha), of Hamilton, in the MX2 class at Taupo — although King has hinted the MX1 class might be his preferred option for Sunday — and Columb may also likely come up against freshly-anointed Australian under-19 champion Kayne Lamont (KTM), the BikesportNZ.com rider from Mangakino just back from racing for Team New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in Belgium.

“Racing in Australia throughout 2012 and also racing at the Motocross of Nations in Belgium has given me a lot of experience,” said the 19-year-old Lamont, the local rider hoping to put on a good show for his many fans at Taupo.

“My body got pretty beaten up in the deep sand of the Belgian track and it’s taken me a while to recover but I’ve had a few days’ rest now and I should be ready to go.”

Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter (Suzuki), New Zealand’s MX2 class reserve rider in Belgium last month, Brighton’s Campbell King (Honda), Kaukapakapa’s Josh Jack (Suzuki), Rotorua’s Cameron Vaughan (Yamaha) and Auckland pair Brandon Tipene (Kawasaki) and Shaun Fogarty (KTM) also loom as potential race winners in the fiercely-fought MX2 category, while visiting young Australian Jesse Dobson (Kawasaki) adds extra international flavour to the action.

The MX1 class was expected to be dominated by Moto City Suzuki ace Cody Cooper, the former national MX1 champion and current No.2 with perhaps too much speed and power for his rivals … until the surprise last-minute entry of former hometown boy Ben Townley, the Blue Wing Honda ace the national No.1 and certainly a match for Cooper.

And that won’t stop local favourites Nick Saunders (Kawasaki) and Brad Groombridge (Honda), or Whakatane all-rounder Mitch Rees (Honda) from trying to give them both a hurry-up either

BikesportNZ.com rider Logan Blackburn (Yamaha), from Tauranga, is tipped to feature in the senior 125cc class, although Atiamuri’s Hadleigh Knight (KTM), Auckland’s Sean O’Connor and Matamata’s Jacob Kneebone (Yamaha) should also be in contention for the top step of the podium, not to mention former 85cc world No.6 Courtney Duncan, the Otago girl now racing a YZ125.

Racing over the two days also features junior and mini class riders, as well as women and veteran class racers.

© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com