2022 NZ VETS & WOMEN ’ S MX CHAMPS
Courtney off to a good start
class races on Saturday , despite crashing twice in race two , heading off teenage former Australian champion Taylah McCutcheon ( Honda ) and Tauranga ’ s recently-crowned British women ’ s motocross champion Roma Edwards ( Honda ), with defending New Zealand women ’ s champion Amie Roberts ( Yamaha ), from Hamilton , and Bridgestone Kawasaki Racing Team rider from Otorohanga ,
Shelley Hickman
Zara Gray , rounding out the top five . “ It ’ s still about five months away from my 2023 season kick-off in Europe , so this event in Cambridge is not really part of my build-up for that ,” she explained . “ It ’ s just that I ’ m home and the dates aligned for me and Kawasaki is the main sponsor here , so it was important to show up for them . “ It ’ s so cool to see the depth of talent here in the women ’ s grades and the sheer numbers too . When I grew up and started racing there wasn ’ t even a dedicated women ’ s class . So to see the numbers and the growth in the sport from when I started is phenomenal . Hopefully it can keep rising .”
VETERANS It was a similarly dominant performance from Cody Cooper , racing his KX450F in the veteran men ’ s 35-39 years ’ class . The Bridgestone Kawasaki Racing Team rider continued on from his outright MX1 class win at the season-opening MX Fest event in Taupo a week earlier , this time fending off former national MX1 champion Justin McDonald ( Honda ), from Christchurch , and Raetihi ’ s
44 KIWI RIDER