He may have been eligible for the veteran ranks 10 years ago, but it was a first-time appearance for Bay of Plenty’s Peter Broxholme at this year’s edition of the New Zealand Veterans’ and Women’s Motocross Championships near Cambridge at the weekend.
The Honda star is no novice, of course, having raced with and beaten many of the nation’s elite riders over the years, but the 40-year-old Tauranga man dedicates his time these days to running motocross coaching courses and so competing at national championship events is indeed a rare thing.
Therefore, it was gratifying for him to be able to show that he could still win races at a high level and also prove to his many students that he really does know what he’s been talking about in his motocross “classroom”.
Winton’s Justin Shaw (Kawasaki), locked in a close struggle in the vets’ 35-39 years’ class at the Skyline MX track. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
To merely say that 40-year-old Broxholme was unbeaten in his veterans’ 40-44 years’ class races at Cambridge on Saturday would be a massive understatement … he absolutely walloped the competition at the Kawasaki-sponsored event, winning each of his three races by a massive margin.
The Motul Honda Team rider won his races by about half a lap each time, finishing between 40 seconds and a minute ahead of the different runner-up riders.
“I really did work hard leading up to this event because I was determined to beat my childhood nemesis, Masterton’s Johnny Burkhart (who won the vets 35-39 years’ class title in 2020). But, sadly, he injured himself a few weeks ago and couldn’t make it to this event.
“I led every race here from the start and was not threatened, so I was really just racing against the clock and trying to improve each time,” Broxholme explained.
“It was good to put my knowledge from coaching into practice on the race track. I really enjoyed this event because it’s such a family atmosphere and the riders all left their egos at the gate.
“There was great camaraderie and the track was awesome. I’ll definitely be back for this next year.”
Eventual runner-up to Broxholme in this 40-44 years’ class was Cambridge’s Jonny Edwards, with Titirangi’s Ryan Buxeda completing the podium.
Cambridge’s Jonny Edwards (Kawasaki), who eventually finished runner-up to Peter Broxholme in the vets’ 40-44 years’ class at the weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Also outstanding at the weekend were visiting former Australian women’s champion Taylah McCutcheon (Honda Racing Australia) and Motul Honda Team rider Roma Edwards, from Tauranga, although they had to accept second and third overall respectively behind Otago’s three-time former women’s world champion Courtney Duncan (Kawasaki) in the talent-laden senior women’s class.
Meanwhile, spectators and riders at the event were invited to enter a draw to win a new Honda CRF450 (valued at $16,695), similar to the one raced at the weekend by Broxholme and Christchurch’s former national MX1 champion Justin McDonald (who finished runner-up to Papamoa’s Cody Cooper in the veterans’ 35-39 years’ class).
Blenheim’s Stacey Emms (Kawasaki), overall winner of the vets’ women 30-39 years’ class at this year’s nationals. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
The lucky winner of that on-going competition will be announced sometime after June 30 next year.
Full results from the event can be found HERE
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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Taupiri’s Ryan Johnstone (Honda), battling for points in the vets’ 35-39 years’ class at Cambridge on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com