He arrived to race in New Zealand for the first time a couple of years ago, but this time British motocross star Jake Nicholls came prepared.

The 22-year-old seemed to struggle when he raced at the big annual Woodville Motocross Grand Prix back in 2011, but this time around it was his Kiwi rivals who were struggling, choking in the dust Nicholls put up as he raced his way to an impressive hat-trick of wins.

Riding a KTM SX250F supplied by the CMR Red Bull KTM Team in New Zealand, Nicholls blasted his way into the lead at the start of race one and that set the tone for the rest of the day, with the great Briton finishing the day unbeaten and a comprehensive 15 points clear of his nearest rival, New Zealand MX2 No.2 Scotty Columb (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ250F), of Queenstown.

“I simply wasn’t in shape the last time I was here and I got smoked,” Nicholls explained.

“I am a lot further along in my pre-GP season preparations this time around, because the 2013 season starts quite soon, in Qatar on March 2.

“But I still came here a little nervous, because I know how fast the Kiwis are on their home turf. It was a good day for me in the end, and I was able to show a bit of what I’m capable of, but I need to get quicker yet before the GP season starts.”

It was nearly a KTM upset in the event’s showpiece race, the Invitation Feature race, with Nicholls leading Australian MX1 star Todd Waters (KTM Australia) and Kiwi former world champion Ben Townley (Carlton Dry Honda CRF450F) for the opening laps.

Townley was soon in second spot and then it was possibly just a matter of time before he hunted down and eventually passed the British GP star.

Townley stretched his advantage to win the race comfortably, but, he confessed afterwards, he’d been made to work hard for it, with the lead swapping several times as Waters made his own bid for glory.

Waters showed tenacity and grit to battle back and finish the race in second spot, with fellow Australian KTM rider Kirk Gibbs claiming the third spot on the podium.

Nicholls eventually had to settle for fifth place against the 450cc riders.

And, while Nicholls did kick up a storm in the MX2 class, fellow CMR Red Bull KTM rider Hadleigh Knight, of Atiamuri, was enjoying similar dominance in the senior 125cc class.

Knight, who was national junior champion in the 15-16 years’ 125cc class last season, won the day’s first two races and then settled for third in the final outing to end the day on top and a safe six points clear of his nearest rival, Rotorua’s Cameron Vaughan (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ125).

It was a busy weekend for Knight, who had also raced the day before, finishing unbeaten in the junior 15-16 years’ 125cc class – finishing ahead of fellow KTM riders Aaron Wiltshier (of Tauranga) and Cohen Chase (of Taupo) – as well as winning the Junior Champion of Champions all-in feature race.

Chase’s brother, Wyatt Chase, raced a KTM SX85 to win the junior 85cc Champion of Champions feature race.

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