Pukekohe turned it on at the weekend for round three of four in the 2024 New Zealand Motocross Championships … there were all extremes of weather conditions, wet and wild on Saturday morning to hot and sweaty by the afternoon.
There was great racing and there was a hat-trick hero too with Auckland-based former Takaka rider Hamish Harwood (pictured above on KTM No.153) winning all three races in the premier MX1 class, while Oparau’s James Scott dominated the MX2 class.
Other championship class winners at Saturday’s round three were Bombay’s Reuben Smith (in the 125cc class) and Raetihi’s Karaitiana Horne (in the women’s class).
New Plymouth’s Rian King won the (class-within-a-class inside the MX2 division) Under-19 class at Pukekohe on Saturday. You can check back here this week as we bring you words and more pictures from the event.
2024 Yamaha Motor NZ Motocross Championship calendar:
Round 1, Rotorua, February 3, 2024
Round 2, Balclutha, February 25, 2024
Round 3, Pukekohe, March 23, 2024
Round 4, Taranaki, April 13, 2024
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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Check back here on www.BikesportNZ.com during this week as we bring you more words and photos from the weekend.
Tauranga’s Cobie Bourke (left) and Ohaupo’s Carlin Hedley launch themselves out of the start gate at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Bombay’s Reuben Smith (CML KTM Racing Team) has strengthened his grip on the 125cc class in the senior New Zealand Motocross Championships after racing at the weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Oparau’s James Scott (Yamaha), on his way to winning the MX2 class at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Opotiki’s Cody Cooper (GASGAS), the defending national MX2 champion, knocked off the top of the class standings at the weekend, but still only six points behind new leader James Scott. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Raetihi’s Karaitiana Horne (Kawasaki) has extended her lead in the women’s class to 26 points over Opunake’s Taylar Rampton with just one round now remaining. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com