The finishing touches are being applied to two South Island tracks this week as riders rev up for this weekend’s start of the two-round New Zealand Supercross Championships.

Timaru hosts the Backflips Clothing-sponsored opening round of the championships just outside Timaru on Sunday afternoon, with a talent-packed line-up of riders signing up to race.

Then, just a few days later, the world’s southern-most supercross event will happen in Winton, the Southland Motorcycle Club hosting the Brent Scammell Honda-sponsored second and final round of the series on Thursday evening.

The racing will again feature the cream of New Zealand’s supercross exponents, plus a handful of riders from overseas as well.

Topping the list of starters is The Honda Shop Race team, managed by former motocross world champion Ben Townley, featuring national MX1 motocross No.1 Cody Cooper, of Mount Maunganui, fighting for glory alongside the Josh Coppins-managed Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team that will feature just-crowned Australian supercross champion Jay Wilson. Wilson’s team-mate will be fellow Australian Matt Howarth.

Suzuki New Zealand and Kiwi Motocross of Nations team rider Rhys Carter will be on the starting gate and Kawasaki’s Scott Wilkins will arrive with Team Green riders Kieran Scheele, from Elsthorpe, and Jesse Donnelly, from Paraparaumu.

High-flying young Hamilton rider Josiah Natzke will be there with his CMR Red Bull KTM bike, while round two will have Australian import Sam Duncanson, from Brisbane, riding the 2014 CRF450R with Invercargill’s Conrad White (pictured here), Winton’s Kyle Hartley and Timaru’s Josh May also sure to be among the frontrunners.

Amberley’s Micah McGoldrick, Christchurch’s former national MX1 champion Justin McDonald and Tauranga’s Peter Broxholme will also add fuel to the fire in the senior grades.

Round two is held on the Mason Phillips-prepared circuit on Ryan Road, just five minutes’ drive north-west of Winton, and the event coincides with day one of the big annual Burt Munro race week.

Racing will kick off at 6pm, immediately after the famous Bluff Hillclimb has been run. A bus will be available from the Burt Munro Rally site for $30 and this cost includes gate entry to the supercross and return bus trip to Invercargill.

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

Track photo supplied by Darbi Accessories