CARTER
Harwood had won the MX Development
class (under-19 years) title in Australia in
2013 and also previously finished runner-
up in the MX2 class, in the 2014 season. His
intention now is to put together a plan to
return and have another crack at winning
the Australian MX2 title next season,
“depending on what financial support I can
muster”.
Another Kiwi, competing in the MX
Development (under-19 years) class, was
Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis and he also
finished his Australian campaign on the
podium.
Purvis (Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team)
was a force to be reckoned with in Australia
this year, winning four of the seven rounds
in the MXD class, and dominating the day
at Coolum, but it was Australian youngster
Bailey Malkiewicz who ended up clinching
the MXD title.
17-year-old Purvis, from Mangakino,
dominated the day at the seventh and final
MXD round at Coolum, scoring back-to-back
wins in the MXD class, although he still had
to settle for third overall for the series.
“When Maximus was good, he was very,
16 KIWI RIDER
very good, but that wasn’t always the case,”
said team manager Josh Coppins, the man
who was 2012 MX1 champion in Australia.
“I think he understands now what his
weaknesses are and we will start working on
those. Maximus is very good on soft, sandy
tracks, but, when the track is less technical
and hard-pack, he’s up against so many
more riders who can go fast, and any small
mistake is punished.
“For instance, he was lapping riders at
Coolum who were battling with him at the
previous event, where the surface had
allowed anyone to go fast.”
Yamaha rider Malkiewicz placed fourth
overall for the day at Coolum, but this was
enough for him to win the series overall.
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi rider Rhys Carter
(Complete Parts Kawasaki Racing Team),
from Mount Maunganui, finished the day
at Coolum ranked fifth overall in MX1 class
(after finishing fourth and eighth in his two
races on Sunday) and he wound up seventh
overall in the MX1 series standings.
Yamaha’s Dean Ferris had wrapped up the
MX1 title, making it three consecutive MX1
crowns, at the previous round.