KIWI YAMAHA GIRL TAKES
IT TO THE AUSTRALIANS
98 KIWI RIDER
“I am really happy with how I’m riding and
confident that I can continue on my YZ125
against the more powerful 250cc bikes.
“I am back home now to work on losing a few
more seconds off my lap times and catch up on
some school work, but it has been an awesome
experience.”
Moore visited New Zealand in September last
year, winning the senior national women’s title
while she was here. Edwards won the junior
women’s, 12-16 years’, 125cc/250cc class title at
that same event near Timaru.
Motueka’s Roma Edwards,
tasting success across
the Tasman Sea
N
ew Zealand motocross ace Roma Edwards
has been coached by one of the best and
now she’s put those lessons into action
by taking on and beating some of the best in
Australia.
The 16-year-old from Motueka has regularly
been coached by Kiwi former Grand Prix
motocross star Josh Coppins and this year
decided she was ready to tackle the senior
Australian Women’s Motocross Championships
at Murray Bridge, South Australia, the host city
located about 75 kilometres east-southeast of
the state’s capital city, Adelaide.
As a year 12 correspondence school pupil, it
allowed her the freedom to travel overseas
to race, although she also knew that the
competition would be tough.
“I wanted to get a feel for where I was at. Josh
Coppins helped organise a Yamaha YZ125 for
me through WBR racing and dad came with me,
armed with a pit board and a handful of tools
that he could carry on the plane.
“I had a massive over-the-handlebars crash in
practice but luckily I was only bruised.
“I got a seventh place in the first points race by
riding carefully. I then managed a fifth, sixth and
fifth, giving me a sixth placing overall for the
two rounds.
“Whilst in Australia, I also raced a qualifier
round for the King of MX in Leeston and
topped the podium with an overall win.
“Just last weekend, dad and I went back to
Australia, to Nowra in New South Wales, to
race against the top women in Australia,”
she said, with at least three of those lining
up alongside her in Australia possessing vast
international experience, these women having
recently raced on the world championships
scene in Europe.
“I did a bit more preparation, riding a few
different tracks on our way there. I managed
to improve my overall to a fourth place in the
State Titles at the King of MX,” she said, finishing
behind Australian internationals Meg Rutledge,
Jess Moore and Emma Milsevich.