There will be a 24-hour delay now until the running of the fourth and final round of this year’s New Zealand Motocross Championships in Taranaki.
With the hilly track on Barrett Road suffering a deluge of rain over the past day or so – part of the “atmospheric river” that’s creeping up the entire rest of the country – a decision was made by the organisers late this afternoon to postpone the Yamaha-sponsored event until Sunday.
Motorcycling New Zealand motocross co-commissioner Stu McCulloch, working alongside fellow commissioner and Taranaki Motorcycle Club secretary Sonia Cloke, said it was the sensible decision to make.
“We want the final round of this series to be safe and spectacular for riders and spectators alike and it was agreed that racing on Sunday, which has been forecast by the meteorological service to improve overnight on Saturday, will hopefully be a lot more favourable for all concerned,” he said.
“The riders have all shown great commitment again this season to dedicate themselves to travelling the length and breadth of the country and to compete at such an extraordinarily high level and we want to provide the best possible conditions for them in which to race.”
Sign-on at the track will be between 6-7am Sunday, with riders’ briefing at 7.15am.
Practice will, begin at 7.30am “or as soon thereafter as is safe to do so”.
2024 NZ Motocross Championship calendar:
Round 1, Rotorua, February 3, 2024
Round 2, Balclutha, February 25, 2024
Round 3, Pukekohe, March 23, 2024
Round 4, Taranaki, April 13, 2024
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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