It’s an incredible 17 years since these photos of then future Kiwi motocross greats Josiah Natzke and Maximus Purvis were taken at the New Zealand Mini Motocross Championships in 2008.
Okay, so Mount Manganui’s Natzke (pictured left) and Mangakino’s Purvis (pictured right) did not face up to one another that busy weekend at Mangatainoka – the track right beside the iconic brewery, midway between Woodville and Pahiatua – back in 2008 because they were in slightly different age categories at that event.
But now age is no barrier to them going head-to-head and, what’s even more significant is that this weekend they’ll be battling one another for the greatest prize in New Zealand motocross, the senior national MX1 crown.
After three of four rounds in the 2025 New Zealand Motocross Championships there are just 13 points to separate these two riders at the top of the MX1 class standings and, with three races to decide the final outcome at Rotorua’s final round today, anything is still possible.
What’s more, West Auckland’s defending national MX1 champion Hamish Harwood is third in the current rankings, just seven points further back.
Starting today on top of the standings, the odds still favour Purvis to collect the MX1 title he last won in 2023, but Natzke, an infrequent campaigner in New Zealand in recent years as international competitions have kept him away, may have a little momentum on his side this weekend.
Purvis dominated at round one near Tauranga last month with a hat-trick of wins, with Natzke second overall that day and Harwood third, and Purvis also won the day during the series’ first visit to Rotorua for round two, also in February, this time with Harwood claiming second overall and Natzke forced to accept third for the day.
At round three at Harrisville, just outside Pukekohe, last weekend, it was Natzke who finished on top, with Harwood runner-up for the day and Purvis back in third, so anything could happen in Rotorua today.
It is even tighter at the top of the MX2 (250cc) class with just four points to separate leader Madoc Dixon from main challenger Cobie Bourke.
However, multi-time former champion Cody Cooper, from Opotiki, Taihape’s Hayden Smith and Pukehina’s Flynn Watts, to name just a few, have each shown they’re capable of at least winning races, so who knows what might happen at Rotorua?
The 125cc class is a little more clear-cut, with Karaka’s Hayden Draper 32 points ahead of nearest threat Jack Ellingham, from Auckland, and it’s a similar story in the women’s class, with Raetihi’s Karaitiana Horne 19 points ahead of Queensland’s Taylah McCutcheon.
For the record, Natzke (pictured above, left) won the 9-11 years’ 65cc class at Mangatainoka in 2008, finishing ahead of Hawera’s Nick Hornby and Thames rider Benjamin Broad, while Purvis (pictured above, right) won the 7-8 years’ 65cc class, finishing ahead of Cambridge’s Ashton Grey and Hastings rider Jye Deacon.
2025 New Zealand Senior Motocross Championships
Round 1, Saturday, Feb 15, 2025, Tauranga Motorcycle Club;
Round 2, Saturday Feb 22, 2025, Rotorua Motorcycle Club;
Round 3, Saturday, March 8, 2025, Pukekohe Motorcycle Club;
Round 4, Saturday, March 15, 2025, Rotorua Motorcycle Club.
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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