2019 FOX NZ MX CHAMPS
HARWOOD IS
DOUBLE TROUBLE
FOR TITLE HOPEFULS
est Auckland’s Hamish Harwood is
fighting a war on two fronts again this
season and, so far at least, he’s winning
them both.
The former Takaka man, who now lives in
Royal Heights, Auckland, dominated both the
MX2 (250cc) and 125cc classes at the first of
four rounds in this year’s Fox New Zealand
Motocross Championships in Taranaki two
weeks ago and he will have gone to round
two near Rotorua at the weekend hoping to
cement his position in both categories.
The 23-year-old builder had his work cut out
in the MX2 class with on-form Mangakino
rider Maximus Purvis and current Australian
MX2 champion Wilson Todd piling on the
pressure, while riders such as Taupo’s Brad
Groombridge, Oamaru’s Joel Meikle and
Taupo’s Wyatt Chase also challenged at
round one.
Harwood had a nine-point advantage over
Todd and Purvis in the MX2 class – these
two riders settling for equal second after the
opening round – and Harwood was even more
devastating in the 125cc class.
Harwood scored a hat-trick of wins in the
125cc class in Taranaki, while Tauranga’s
Brodie Connolly and Ngatea’s Ben Broad
fought over the No.2 position.
However, the 125cc class rankings will have
had a reshuffle at Rotorua on Sunday, with
news that Connolly has now sidelined himself
following a crash just the previous weekend.
Meanwhile, the racing in Taranaki was also
tight in the MX1 class, with Mount Maunganui’s
Cody Cooper eventually getting the edge
over Australian Kirk Gibbs – the man from
Queensland the defending New Zealand
MX1 champion – and Hamilton-based former
Mangakino rider Kayne Lamont.
The 35-year-old Cooper is a six-time former
New Zealand MX1 champion and he is
determined to win the title back this season.
He seems to be on target, but he was enjoying
only a modest three-point lead over Gibbs at
the start of last weekend’s racing near Rotorua.
Gibbs was the overall winner on the day at the
Rotorua track last season, so race fans might
expect the action to be fast and furious again
this Sunday.
Motorcycling New Zealand motocross
commissioner Ray Broad said the
championships were shaping up to be a great
Kiwi versus Aussie battle.
Round three of the 2019 Fox New Zealand
Motocross Championships is set for Pukekohe
on February 24 and, finally, the nationals wrap
up at Taupo on March 10.
Round one of the series was additionally
supported by Mach 1 Yamaha, while Patterson
O’Connor Motorcycles supports round two,
Ebbett Pukekohe supports round three and
Yamalube supports round four.
Check the next issue of Kiwi Rider for full
coverage of round two of the MX Champs.
KIWI RIDER 17