Huka Honda MX Fest at Taupo

All roads lead to the Bay of Plenty this weekend as the 2018-19 New Zealand motocross season kicks into life at the big annual MX Fest in Taupo.

The popular MX Fest event this Labour Weekend has again attracted all the nation’s major riders and race teams.

The popularity of the two-day spectacular, on Taupo’s steaming pumice and sand Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park circuit, ensures there won’t be a motel bed to spare in the region over the coming days.

With new 2019 model bikes to be tuned and set-up for the upcoming nationals, muscles to be flexed, fresh team line-ups and allegiances to be shaped and a long weekend in which to do it, the MX Fest heralds the start of what could be another cracking motocross season.

World, national and provincial titles count for nothing, international credentials are likely to be challenged and past loyalties go out the window as the new season brings forward fresh and exciting match-ups at this Huka Honda-sponsored event this weekend (October 20-21), with riders such as Taupo brothers Cohen and Wyatt Chase, Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter, Cambridge’s Seton Head, Taihape’s Hayden Smith, Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly and Waitakere’s Ethan Martens, for example, all now sporting different colours from last season.

Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper, Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont, Taupo’s Brad Groombridge, Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis, Oparau’s James Scott, Tauranga’s Ben Townley, Te Puke’s Logan Blackburn, Wairoa’s Tommy Watts and Beachlands rider Blake Gillard are also expected to be in hot form and sure to feature near the front of the pack.

Lamont was the premier class winner at the MX Fest event last year, while Cooper and Carter have just returned from a successful campaign in representing New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in the United States (where they were teamed up with and West Auckland’s Hamish Harwood) and these riders in particular will really be flying.

In addition, Australian heroes Mason Semmens and Mick MacDermid hop across the Tasman Sea for the weekend’s jam-packed race programme.

Now in its 33rd year, the event is expected to attract riders in their hundreds and spectators in their thousands, with the race programme, as usual, featuring the mini riders, junior and women riders on Saturday.

The following day is reserved for senior motocross racing and this will be “shake off the cobwebs” time for all of the leading race teams as they build towards the start of the four-round 2019 nationals, starting in New Plymouth in February.

The mini ranks and Pro 65cc class riders, too, will no doubt feature a few recently-crowned national champions, with youngsters such as Arama Te Whetu, Travis Taylor, Jordan Coles, Wills Harvey, Jacob Beattie, Charlie Schaw and Maz Parkes sure to be among those who shine on Saturday.

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