Excitement is building for New Zealand’s National 125cc and U21 class championships judging by some of the top performances seen from riders competing at Taupo’s Extravaganza and the recent Auckland Motocross Champs.

BikesportNZ.com contributor Sharon Cox runs an eye over the competition as the season rumbles towards a kick-off with the Whakatane Summercross just around the corner, followed by the annual Woodville Motocross and then the four-round national championships series beginning in Timaru in January.

Recent events have given a glimpse of race competition for the up-coming National 125cc class, with lap times, points and placings very close.

Predicting who will top the podiums over the four rounds of the New Zealand Motocross Championships in 2013 remains challenging.

Will Courtney Duncan display sheer guts and determination to win given her step up to senior racing … will Hadleigh Knight (KTM) hold off challenges from Aiden Kiff (Husqvarna), Sean O’Connor (Husqvarna) and Kurtis Lilly (KTM) racing two rounds on hard pack? Or will James Anderson and Aaron Wiltshier place KTMs on the podium?

Then there’s last year’s national 125 No.3 Logan Blackburn (BikesportNZ.com Yamaha), national 125 No.4 Callan May (BikesportNZ.com Yamaha), of Auckland, and national 125cc No.5 Nathan Clare (KTM), of Nelson, likely to be in the mix too.

We took the opportunity to ask these riders what goals have been set, what preparation has been done and what challenges lie ahead.

After recovering from knee reconstruction, Yamaha’s Duncan enjoyed top of podium at Taupo, “it felt great to be back out on the track doing what I love … it’s actually hard to describe how good it feels, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed riding so much as I am now”.

Racing with confidence and determination, Duncan believes the “main thing is to have fun because if you’re not having fun why do it?! Each time I ride or race I’m enjoying myself but at the same time I’m out to win because I believe I work hard enough to”.

Facing new challenges of racing in senior nationals 2013, Duncan is as keen as ever. “It will be my first time racing (the senior) NZ MX Championships, so I’m excited”. “Whether it will be racing the YZ125 or YZ250F will just depend … either way I’ll be there ready to bang bars and have fun.”

One rider up to the challenge of racing National 125cc class is Hadleigh Knight. Following his winning the NZ MX Junior National 125cc title this year, Knight was stoked to compete in Australia’s MX Junior Nationals just 12 weeks out from a broken leg.

“It was awesome to race overseas, on a track I didn’t know and against faster competition and different riders that I wouldn’t normally race against. The event really did push my fitness to the max and since I’ve been working really hard running, mountain biking, circuit training and core work.”

Focused on the U21 & 125cc class, the KTM rider aims to place top three in every round, then “go on and defend my NZ MX Junior Championship Title and win the 250cc Title at Junior Nationals 2013”.

“For me, the most important thing when achieving my goals is just to have fun, never give up or quit and know hard work does pay off.”

Equally, Logan Blackburn’s goals are set going into the NZ Motocross Championship 125cc class … “stay consistent, podium every round … and take the championship”.

Recovering from a broken collar-bone, Blackburn believes the “class is stacked with competition”. With support from Nikki Irwin to improve confidence and speed, along with feedback from Ben Townley, Blackburn is determined to run up front with the best.

“I think good starts will be key, hard work, determination and self-discipline to train hard on and off the bike.”

With two rounds on a hard-pack surface, Kiff, Lilly and O’Connor will certainly push the pace up front.

“Consistency, race smarts and being fast in all 12 races” are the keys to winning, according to Pukekohe rider O’Connor.

Most importantly for O’Connor is being in the “right headspace, having top physical condition, the right tools and people behind me”.

For sure, this makes for exciting racing in NZ MX Championship 125cc class 2013. We can’t wait.

© Words by Sharon Cox, www.BikesportNZ.com

© Photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com