stock-standard 300cc kit, he also went into
battle against the 450cc bike riders in the MX1
class, this time posting a 2-5-1 score-card.
These results earned Harwood the runner-
up position overall in both classes, in the MX2
class behind fellow KTM rider Wyatt Chase
– the Taupo rider finishing with a 1-1-2 score-
card – and in the MX1 class behind Mount
Maunganui’s national MX1 champion Cody
Cooper (Honda Racing Team), who went 1-1-2.
Harwood seemed to get faster as the
day wore on, the CML KTM Racing Team
rider apparently in his element in the
furnace-like conditions at Woodville.
“At the start of the day I felt really tight and I was
getting arm pump. I know that this track can be
tricky, so I didn’t want to push too hard. I wasn’t
just cruising, but I did tone my riding back a bit.
“I have not been doing as much riding lately
as I’d like because my wife, Katie, and I
have been working on sprucing up our new
home,” said Harwood, a builder by trade.
“It was a good work-out for me at Woodville.
I think I proved today that the KTM 300, even
as a stock bike, is a real weapon in the MX1
class though. I certainly loved riding it.
“I’ll be using this week to recover from
the weekend and then I’ll come out
swinging again at the opening round of
the nationals in Taranaki this Sunday.”
Fellow KTM rider Kirk Gibbs arrived from his
home in Queensland during the week, keen to
use Woodville and the upcoming New Zealand
nationals to help prepare him for the Australian
nationals that kick off in Victoria in April.
Despite the fact that he had not raced since
representing Australia at the Motocross of
Nations in England in October, Gibbs managed
to finish the day fourth overall in the MX1 class
and also runner-up in the event’s signature
Invitation Feature race, behind Hamilton’s Kayne
Lamont (Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team).
I think I proved today that the
KTM 300, even as a stock bike,
is a real weapon in the MX1 class
Hamish Harwood
Reece Lister
KIWI RIDER 89