WINDING IT BACK 10 YEARS
Rotorua’s Michael Phillips was New Zealand MX2 champion in 2007. It didn’t quite go to plan for him in 2008, although he did bounce back and win the MX2 crown again in 2009. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
It is the fourth and final round of the 2018 New Zealand Motocross Championships in Taupo today and so, in BikesportNZ.com’s occasional “Weekend Wind-back” feature, we have turned the clock back 10 years to have a look at what went on that corresponding day in 2008.
Here we go … although, back in 2008, the fourth round of the motocross nationals were actually staged later in the year, in December.
We hope you’ll enjoy this snapshot from our news archives.
Waikato’s Damien King (Yamaha), the national MX1 champion in 2008, winning the title on a count-back from Peter Broxholme after the pair had ended the series that year level on points. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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Anyway, let’s climb in the time machine and head back to 2008, round four of the nationals that year being staged at Barrett Road, near New Plymouth, on December 14.
DRAMA AND HIGH EXCITEMENT AT FINAL ROUND
Taranaki had it all, drama with a script that could have come straight from a soap opera.
The fourth and final round of the 2008 Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championships at New Plymouth’s Barrett Road Motorcycle Park on Sunday (December 14) certainly gave fans their money’s worth – it was full of intrigue, high speed and high excitement.
The racing went down to the wire in every sense of the word, with only one title decided before the end of the day.
With his New Plymouth parents looking on, former Taranaki man Damien King made it quite a homecoming when he not only wrapped up the 125cc title with a race to spare but the 32-year-old former GP rider also won his first MX1 (open) class crown in one of the tightest battles ever seen in New Zealand motocross.
New Zealand MX2 champion in 2008, Hawera’s Daryl Hurley. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Yamaha’s King, who now calls Cambridge his home, began the day four points behind Tauranga Honda rider Peter Broxholme and knew he would have to beat Broxholme in both MX1 races on Sunday.
To make matters worse, national No.2 Broxholme had qualified faster than King on Saturday and looked to be well on target to win his first national title.
Adding to the intrigue was the fact that Scott Columb, a world championship GP rider from Queenstown, was close in third place overall and in very hot form, having won the previous three races in the championship. Columb was only third in the standings because of a disastrous opening round near Rotorua in October.
Queenstown’s Scotty Columb leads the charge down the main hill at Barrett Road during this MX1 class race in 2008. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
The scene was set for an epic three-way battle on Sunday and that’s exactly as it panned out.
Columb won both MX1 races on Sunday and, although he won more races than any other rider in this class all season, he finished the series only third overall, frustratingly just two points away from taking the title.
King did all he needed to do on Sunday, finishing third and second in the two MX1 races. Significantly, he was ahead of Broxholme in both outings and that decided it all.
King and Broxholme finished the series first equal on points and it came down to a count-back to split the pair, King getting the nod because of his superior race record.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” said King afterwards. “I’ve won the 125cc title four times now, but never the open class. A few riders made mistakes and that helped but I still had to do the job.
“Now I’m a double champion in one season … I’ll never forget this.”
Broxholme was philosophical in defeat.
“I thought I was riding okay but he (King) just powered on and I petered out,” said the 26-year-old. “He was too strong and I had no reply for him in the end. I’ve tried all these years to be No.1 and I’m sure my time will come.”
The MX2 (250cc) class turned out to be a shock win to Hawera’s Daryl Hurley, the Suzuki man well behind defending champion Michael Phillips, of Rotorua, in the points analysis as the gate dropped for the final race, but, as was also the case at the Taranaki round last year, it’s never over until it’s over.
It all turned to custard for Mikey Phillips at the fourth and final round of the motocross nationals in 2008. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Phillips crashed his Honda heavily on the opening lap and, although he recovered to circulate again, he was a long way back. His position hopeless, Phillips withdrew from the race (prompted to do so by a black flag after he had ridden backwards on the track), effectively handing the title to a grateful and very surprised Hurley.
“To finish first; first you must finish,” said a matter-of-fact Hurley afterwards.
“Sure I feel sorry for Michael. He was faster than me all season but, after what happened here last year (when Hurley won the MX1 title after the class leader crashed out and the same thing happened for Phillips at Taranaki for him to win the MX2 title last season) … I know how this track can jump up and bite people.”
The look on the face of Mike Phillips says it all. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Meanwhile, Taupo teenager Cameron Dillon (Honda) finished runner-up to King in the 125cc class, enough for him to win the race-within-a-race for under-21 honours.
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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LEADING FINAL STANDINGS (from 2008):
MX1 (open class):
- Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha) 147 points;
- Peter Broxholme (Tauranga, Honda) 147;
- Scott Columb (Queenstown, Suzuki) 145;
- Nick Saunders (Taupo, Kawasaki) 113;
- Jayden Jessup (Wellington, Yamaha) 92.
MX2 (250cc class):
- Daryl Hurley (Hawera, Suzuki) 148 points;
- Michael Phillips (Rotorua, Honda) 142;
- Hamish Dobbyn (Warkworth, Yamaha) 106;
- Justin McDonald (Christchurch, Honda) 103;
- Hayden Clark (Auckland, Honda) 99.
125cc class:
- Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha) 172 points;
- Cameron Dillon (Taupo, Honda) 136;
- Ethan Martens (Waitakere, KTM) 121;
- Cameron Negus (Rotorua, Yamaha) 116;
- Matt Hunt (Gisborne, Suzuki) 112.
British former GP rider James Marsh helps with pit board duties for Tauranga’s Peter Broxholme in 2008. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Under-21 class (incorporated within the 125cc class):
- Cameron Dillon (Taupo, Honda) 159 points;
- Ethan Martens (Waitakere, KTM) 146;
- Matt Hunt (Gisborne, Suzuki) 135.
MNZ Cup (Support class):
- Matt Walker (Wellington, Honda) 228;
- Mark Collier (Auckland, Honda) 186;
- Mark Hunt (Rotorua, Honda) 146.
Veterans (support class):
- Darren Capill (Whakatane, Yamaha) 72 points;
- Brent Scammell (Winton, Honda) 69;
- David Furze (New Plymouth, Honda) 60.
The MX2 class charges towards turn one at the final round of the 2008 nationals in Taranaki. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com