SMALL BIKE BATTLE HEATS UP

The battle between the Yamaha aces just got even more intense.

Rotorua’s Cameron Vaughan (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ125) narrowly led the 125cc class as riders arrived at Pukekohe on Sunday for the third round of four in this season’s New Zealand Motocross Championships and, although he left the race track at the end of the day with his lead intact, it was not without a few scary moments along the way.

Vaughan’s closest rival for the national 125cc title – Te Puke’s Logan Blackburn (Bayride BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ125) – was the day’s winner in the 125cc class, scoring 1-1-5 results in his three outings.

Meanwhile, Vaughan was experiencing an up-and-down day, finishing third in both the day’s early races as Blackburn raced to victory and this sent ripples through the JCR Yamaha Racing enclosure as Blackburn took over the championship lead.

But Vaughan struck back in race three, winning it in style, while it was Blackburn’s turn to suffer a set-back, struggling to fight through traffic and eventually settle for fifth.

This result promptly handed the championship lead straight back to Vaughan.

Just four points now separate these two young men as they head to Taupo for the final round on March 31 and this class is one that will go down to the wire.

“I just couldn’t get off the start line cleanly in the first two races today,” said Vaughan.

“The pace is really hot and, if you don’t get a good start, it’s almost impossible to win.

“I only lost a little ground on Logan (Blackburn) … he’s closer to me by just one point … so I just need to concentrate on doing everything right at the final round.”

Meanwhile, riders of the distinctive blue and white bikes also finished on the podium in the other two championship categories as well.

While Vaughan and Blackburn were taking their Yamaha machines to battle for ascendancy in the 125cc class, the fight was on for Queenstown’s Scotty Columb (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ250F) in the MX2 class and Scotland’s Billy MacKenzie (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ450F) was in the hunt for top honours in the premier MX1 division.

An injured Columb finished an unaccustomed sixth overall in the MX2 class at Pukekohe on Sunday – in a category where there is really little to separate the top eight or 10 riders – but it was enough to retain his overall championship lead.

Columb’s points advantage has been shaved slightly, but he still heads Australian visitor Brock Winston (CMR Red Bull KTM 250SX) by a healthy 14 points with just one round remaining.

MacKenzie also did enough to hold onto his runner-up spot in the MX1 class, although he is now 31 points behind Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (Moto City Suzuki RM-Z450).

The championship wraps up for all classes in Taupo in just over two week’s time (March 31).

The JCR Yamaha Racing team is supported by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, Yamalube, GYTR, Josh Coppins Racing, Yamaha Motor Finance, Star Moving, Holland’s Collision Centre, Fox, Alpinestars, Atlas, POD, Racetech Plastics, Renthal, DID, NGK, Pirelli, Motomuck, ilabb, Factory Effex, Boyesen, Pro Circuit and Matrix.