All Roads Lead to Taupo for MX Fest 14 Oct 2014
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- Australia Jumping on the Boy Bandwagon Living
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Minister launches SmartGate in Wellington Travel
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Brownlee Leads Aviation Mission To Shanghai News
- Trams to make a comeback on Auckland’s streets News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
The 2014 Huka Honda MX Fest at Taupo
All Roads
Lead to Taupo for MX Fest
by Andy McGechan |
www.BikesportNZ.com
October 13,
2014
It is already one of the premier events on New Zealand’s motocross calendar and now it’s set to get even bigger.
The traditional annual Labour Weekend motocross in Taupo once again looms large as the first major hit-out of the new season for New Zealand’s motocross elite and this year it has undergone both a name change and a radical revamp as well.
World, national and provincial titles count for nothing, international credentials are likely to be challenged and past loyalties go out the window as the new season brings forward fresh and exciting match-ups at the Huka Honda MX Fest at Taupo over both the Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend, October 25-26.
Now in its 29th year, the popular Taupo event is again likely to attract riders in their hundreds and spectators in their thousands, with the race programme, as usual, featuring mini, junior and women riders on Saturday and senior and veteran racers on Sunday, but with an exciting new track layout.
The event offers more than $15,000 in prizemoney and will this year also features a “whip competition” with visiting American rider Brett Cue leading the way.
The programme this year has also been extended well into Saturday night as Bay of Plenty’s former world and American champion Ben Townley introduces New Zealand’s first official Speedcross event.
“This is going to be huge,” said Townley. “It will be the biggest thing in New Zealand this year. It will be exactly 12 months since we first introduced the concept at the Taupo track last October and now we’re having the first official Speedcross event in New Zealand.”
In addition to Townley and Cue, the line-up for Saturday evening’s Speedcross event is expected to include Kiwi internationals Josh Coppins, of Motueka, Rotorua’s John Phillips, Queenstown’s Scott Columb, Taupo’s Brad Groombridge, Elsthorpe’s Kieran Scheele, Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke and Dargaville’s Hamish Dobbyn, along with high-profile national championship contenders Campbell King, of Dunedin, Paraparaumu’s Jesse Donnelly and Hamilton’s Jesse Wiki.
The following day is reserved for senior motocross racing and this will be “shake off the cobwebs” time for all the leading race teams as they build towards the start of the four-round nationals, starting in New Plymouth in February.
The Honda Shop Racing Team will be there is force with Phillips and their new signing from Tauranga, Aaron Wiltshier; the Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki Team will have Groombridge, King and new signing from Te Puke, Logan Blackburn, waving the flag; The Altherm JCR Yamaha Team will feature Coppins, Columb and Waitakere’s Ethan Martens, while the CMR Red Bull KTM Team will have a presence with Natzke and Dobbyn. Kawasaki New Zealand will have Donnelly, Scheele, Auckland’s Sam Greenslade and Ngatea’s Luke Temple in charge of their high profile.
A trio of visiting American riders will feature in the junior ranks – 16-year-old Maryland rider Cameron Dowell, Georgia 14-year-old Gage McBee and another Georgia rider in 12-year-old Ezra Parker.
Action over the two days also features races for junior and mini class riders, as well as catering for women and veteran class racers.
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more