The New Zealand Motocross Championships series may not have a stop-off in the Taranaki region this coming season, but that won’t stop talent from heading to the area in big numbers.

It will be a who’s who of dirt bike racing talent that arrives to contest the annual King of the Mountain Motocross at the Taranaki Motorcycle Club’s popular Barrett Road circuit on Sunday.

Taranaki is not on the national championships calendar for 2012, but many of the country’s top riders will be using the King of the Mountain event as part of their build-up regime.

National MX1 class champion Cody Cooper (Suzuki), of Mount Maunganui, heads the list of star riders expected in the Taranaki region on Sunday.

He can expect fierce challenges from other leading riders such as Taupo’s Cam Dillon, Hamilton’s Hayden Clark, Masterton’s Luke Burkhart, Wanganui’s Tom Managh and national MX2 class champion Darryll King, of Hamilton.

The 42-year-old King is no stranger to the Barrett Road facility – born and bred in Taranaki, he learned his craft and honed his world-beating skills there before heading off to tackle the world championships in Europe.

However, while local knowledge may assist King on Sunday, he’ll have his work cut out taming the likes of Cooper and Burkhart, the men who won the MX1 and MX2 classes respectively at the Auckland Motocross Championships a fortnight ago.

Sunday’s race programme includes a special race, the Stephen Adamson Memorial Race, a tribute to the popular former racer and Inglewood personality who sadly passed away earlier this year after a long battle with poor health.

In addition, the club will run a non-licensed novice class for people who do not have a Motorcycling New Zealand race licence. Riders can enter on the day for this class.

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