The 2024 edition of the annual New Zealand Motocross TT Nationals near Timaru in late August was a roaring success .
The 2024 edition of the annual New Zealand Motocross TT Nationals near Timaru in late August was a roaring success .
The Timaru Yamaha-sponsored two-day spectacle was hosted by the South Canterbury Motorcycle Club and it mostly attracted motorcycling talent from the South Island , although there were several key North Island entries , riders coming from as far away as Pukekawa , in the Waikato , from Cooks Beach , near Whitianga , from Tuakau , near Pukekohe , and from Tauranga . The rolling grassland venue was at Otaio , Saint Andrews , just a few kilometres south of Timaru , and the racing was , as always , of the full-throttle and no-backing-off variety . Winner of the premier senior MX1 class was Winton ’ s Jack Symon , with Christchurch ’ s Justin McDonald finishing runner-up , while Mason Wilkie , from Swannanoa , west of Kaiapoi , claimed the third podium position . It was double glory for Symon too , who rode a smaller capacity version of his Honda to also win the MX2 ( 250cc ) class , this time finishing ahead of Invercargill ’ s Ryan Harris and Timaru ’ s Kolby Brookland . Double class winner Symon , a 19-year-old builder from Winton , near Invercargill , was naturally thrilled with his wins . “ I ’ d been practising on a 450cc bike and so I thought I ’ d dabble in this class ,” he said . “ I surprised myself when I finished second ( behind McDonald ) in the first MX1 race of the weekend , so I just decided to carry on with it . “ The track was pretty slippery , like skating on an ice rink to start with , but I found some good race lines and it worked out for me in the end . “ A shower of rain then dampened things down , but I managed to stay on two wheels .”
In addition to Symon , Cheviot ’ s Dylan Huddleston also won two titles at the TT Motocross Nationals at the weekend , winning both the Senior 125cc class and the junior 12- 16 years ’ 125cc class as well . In fact , it might even turn out to be triple success at national level for Huddleston if he can follow through on his threat to finish second or third in his E2 201cc-open twostroke class at the New Zealand Enduro Championships , with round five set to wrap it all up in Masterton in November . Other class winners at the weekend were Tuakau ’ s Craig Brown ( veterans , over-40 years ); Nelson ’ s Milla Dahlenburg ( junior women , 12-16 years ’ 125cc / 250cc ); Timaru ’ s William Rogers ( junior 14-16 years ’ 250cc class ); Ashburton ’ s Harvey Copland ( 12-16 years ’ 85cc / 150cc class ); Waimate ’ s Nicholas Oakshott ( 8-11 years ’ 85cc / 150cc class ); Tapanui ’ s Jaxon Goble ( Mini 7-11 years 65cc class ); Tapanui ’ s Lucas Ferguson ( Mini 7-11 years trail bike class ); Cooks Beach ’ s Harlen Shore ( Mini 6-8 years 50cc class ); Rangiora ’ s Addison Taylor ( Mini 4-7 years 50cc class ).
“ It was an awesome weekend ,” said South Canterbury Motorcycle Club president Clayton Lucas . “ We had a bit of rain on Friday night , so some of the competitors needed to be towed into the track ... and we towed a few out again at the end of the weekend too . “ But over both days of racing , Saturday and Sunday , the track improved markedly , and the conditions were perfect really in the end . “ There was a great family atmosphere
42 KIWI RIDER