The 2021-22 motocross season could not have kicked off any better for Kawasaki racer Josiah Natzke.
The 22-year-old from Mount Maunganui firstly helped his six-rider Team Green squad to overall victory at Friday’s annual Battle Of The Teams motocross in Taupo and then he lined up again two days later to ride as an individual and dominate the talent-laden MX2 (250cc) class at the big annual MX Fest event that was also staged at the Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park on the outskirts of Taupo.
With COVID-19 pandemic imposing chaos on many of New Zealand’s major sporting activities at present, and with so many of them actually postponed or abandoned completely, it was remarkable in itself that the three-day festival of motocross was able to be staged at all.
Natzke and his Bridgestone Kawasaki Racing Team certainly made the most of the opportunity that was presented by the proactive and forward-thinking Taupo Motorcycle Club, the extravaganza heralding the start to the 2021-22 motocross season over three days of Labour Weekend.
Altherm JCR Yamaha rider Brodie Connolly, runner-up to Bridgestone Kawasaki Racing Team’s Josiah Natzke in all three 15-minute MX2 races staged in the early part of Sunday. He crashed out of the shoot-out feature race segment later in the day. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Friday’s stand-alone Battle Of The Teams fundraiser event and the MX Fest event that followed – juniors racing on Saturday and seniors on Sunday – was a rare gem for the motorcycling community that had been forced to stand by due to COVID restrictions and there are now fingers crossed that the season can continue in one form or another.
Natzke took his Kawasaki KX250F four-stroke bike to win all three of his MX2 class races on Sunday, each time heading off challenges from Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly (Altherm JCR Yamaha), the rising star and recent Yamaha signing who won the 125cc under-19 title in the nationals last season but who has since jumped up to race the more powerful 250cc competition.
Third best in this class on Sunday was Southland racer Jack Treloar (McIver And Veitch KTM), the 18-year-old apprentice builder from Otautau, near Invercargill, rewarded for his long journey with a truly solid podium performance.
Natzke’s unbeaten run will surely have rung a few alarm bells for his MX2 class rivals ahead of the run of summer events that are scheduled, but not yet confirmed, for December and then on into the New Year.
“It was a great way to start the season. I haven’t done a lot of preparation … just a little bit of riding and fitness, but nothing crazy,” said Natzke afterwards.
Southland’s Jack Treloar (McIver and Veitch KTM), overall runner-up in the MX2 class at Taupo’s MX Fest. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
“It’s a shame (Oparau’s national MX2 No.2) James Scott (Honda) wasn’t able to be here because he would have spiced things up a bit more. Brodie (Connolly) rode great today.
“This is a good starting point for me this early in the season. I was peaking more at this time last year, but it’s just good to have a good day on the bike. I’ve got a lot of work to do yet before I’m ready for the nationals.
“The Kawasaki was awesome. It’s a stock bike with an aftermarket pipe on it and that’s all.”
Other senior class winners on Sunday were Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (Honda, MX1); New Plymouth’s Rian King (KTM, 125cc); Whakatane’s Darren Capill (Yamaha, MX3 and veterans over-45 years); Masterton’s Johnny Burkhart (KTM, veterans 35-44 years).
Junior and women’s class winners on Saturday were Morrinsville’s Jared Hannon (Kawasaki and KTM, 14-16 years 250cc class and 15-16 years 125cc class); Tauranga’s Jack Coleman (Husqvarna, 12-14 years 125cc class); Invercargill’s Seth Morrow (KTM, 12-16 years 85cc class); Oropi’s Levi Townley (Yamaha, 8-11 years 85cc class); Tokoroa’s Levi Rodgers (Yamaha, 8-11 years Pro 65cc class); Tauranga’s Roma Edwards (Honda, women).
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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Mount Maunganui’s Zara Gray (Husqvarna No.118) and Tauranga’s Roma Edwards (Honda No.79), shone out as the top two racers in the women’s grade at the weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com