This South Island round – billed as the
“world’s southern-most supercross” – again
attracted a impressive crowd of onlookers
and the riders didn’t disappoint.
Motueka’s former Kiwi international Josh
Coppins actually won all three SX1 class
races at Winton but, as was the case with
Oropi’s Ben Townley when he won all
three SX1 races at Tokoroa, it was the sole
supercross outing of the season for these
two men and, with incomplete campaigns,
they really had no chance of winning the
title.
In the end, Townley had still done enough
to finish sixth overall, the Bay of Plenty rider
on identical points to Coppins, although
Coppins was awarded fifth overall on the
count-back rule.
Motorcycling New Zealand supercross
co-ordinator Noel May said he was feeling
positive about the sport after this year’s
series.
“We had been struggling a bit to get the
entries up in supercross over the years, but
we are now starting to see good growth,” he
said.
“We have a strategic plan that, over the
next five years, we will be able to rebuild
the junior segment to flow through and full
the senior ranks. We had 85cc and 65cc
support classes and 50cc demo races in the
supercross this year, to introduce the sport
to the young ones in the early part of their
racing careers.
“Tokoroa has said they would keep their
supercross track intact and we plan to have
supercross events there during the summer.
The same down south in Winton and
Timaru, where the tracks there will be used
regularly to help to keep the momentum
going.”
The Tokoroa event this year, hosted by
the South Waikato Motorcycle Club, was
supported by Craig Stevens Yamaha and
the Winton event, hosted by the Southland
Motorcycle Club, was supported by Brent
Scammell Honda.
Final Results 2018 NZ SX Champs
SX1
Junior 250
1. Cohen Chase (Taupo) 98 points
2. Reece Walker (Nelson) 85
3. Campbell King (Dunedin) 76 1. Korban Paget (Rangiora) 111 points
2. Connor Newell (Winton) 98
3. Curtis King (New Plymouth) 84
SX2 Junior Lites
1. Josiah Natzke (Mount Maunganui) 137 points
2. Maximus Purvis (Mangakino) 103
3. Ethan Martens (Waitakere) 102
SX Lites
1. Carlin Hedley (Ohaupo) 60 points
2. Nate Adams (Waiuku) 47
3. Brock Sullivan (Upper Hutt) 45
1. Rhys Jillings (Rongotea) 99 points
2. Jack Symon (Invercargill) 95
3. Jordan Newell (Winton) 69