The start of the national motocross championships in both New Zealand and Australia are just around the corner, so what better time than right now to be finding form?

The four-round New Zealand championships kick off near Timaru in less than two weeks’ time, while the 10-round Australian domestic series begins in March, an exciting calendar scenario that encourages top riders from both countries to consider tackling both competitions.

So, even though they may just be in New Zealand on a ‘working holiday’, Australian KTM motocross team-mates Ford Dale and Kirk Gibbs really do mean business.

They both shook up the Kiwi fraternity at the weekend’s 53rd annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville when they each took turns to lead the Kiwi elite around the rolling grassland track.

The two men arrived in New Zealand to contest the Woodville event as part of their warm-up strategy ahead of their own domestic competition.

They will also fly back and forth to contest the four-round New Zealand Motocross Championships that kick off near Timaru on February 8, also using that series as a way of “blowing away the cobwebs” before tackling the Australian nationals.

Well short of full fitness as he recovers from a knee reconstruction operation, the 25-year-old Dale was not expecting to be quite on the pace, although he certainly gave a good impression of a rider at his peak when he blasted to back-to-back wins in the opening two MX1 clashes at Woodville, both times leading home New Zealand MX1 champion Cody Cooper (The Honda Shop Racing Team CRF450).

Dale also led the Invitation Feature Race until Cooper this time managed to find a way past, Dale settling for runner-up spot with KTM team-mate Gibbs taking third step on the feature race podium.

Taupo’s Brad Groombridge (Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki RM-Z-450) finished fourth in the feature race and visiting Scottish rider Billy MacKenzie (Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team YZ450F) rounded out the top five.

Unfortunately, painful wrist cramps forced Dale out of the third and deciding MX1 race that followed the feature race, dropping him to an undeserved fourth overall for the day in the MX1 class, but he still left satisfied that his pre-season build-up was already showing positive signs.

It was a similar story for the 24-year-old Gibbs, also still in recovery mode after crashing at the Australian Supercross Championships in November.

But he, too, showed impressive pace when he led the third MX1 race, holding Cooper and Taupo’s Brad Groombridge (Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki RM-Z450) at bay throughout the early stages, before eventually dropping back to settle for third spot.

“Both Ford and Kirk are riding really well,” said KTM Australia Race Team manager Rob Twyerould.

“We can’t simulate race conditions by staying at home and training there. This racing at Woodville is ideal for their build-up work. We have come here to see how the bikes are performing and to learn what we have to work on. From that point of view it’s been a success too. The race wins were just a bonus.”

Meanwhile, Kiwi KTM riders also impressed at the weekend with Tauranga’s Aaron Wiltshier taking his KTM 125 to lead a KTM 1-2 at the top of the senior 125cc class. He finished 3-2-1 in his three outings to edge out CMR Red Bull KTM rider Josiah Natzke, of Hamilton, who managed 1-3-3 placings on Sunday.

Christchurch’s Dylan Walsh (KTM) also impressed in this class, twice finishing runner-up, but, unfortunately he crashed out of his other race.

Supported by Target MX Coaching, Walsh had also raced in the junior programme on Saturday, finishing 1-1-1 in the 15-16 years’ 125cc class and he also ran away with the win in the junior Champion-of-Champions feature final.

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

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