KING OF MX1 TOO | Bikesportnz

Waikato’s Darryll King is no stranger to racing a 450cc motocross bike.

He’s a former national open class champion and even raced a Yamaha YZ450F to victory at this year’s Veterans’ World Motocross Championships in Winchester, England, but it probably still came as a surprise to many when the national MX2 champion entered the MX1 class at the Valley Motocross Championships at Patetonga, near Morrinsville in the Thames Valley, on Sunday.

“I looked at the MX1 class entry list and thought it would be interesting to take them on. I could see Rotorua’s Michael Phillips, Tauranga’s Peter Broxholme and Taupo’s Nick Saunders were racing and thought it would be nice to test myself against them,” said the 43-year-old King.

King won two of the three MX1 races and settled for runner-up, behind Phillips, in the last race after he crashed while leading.

The Fox DC Fuzion Yamaha rider said it was “a good work-out”, finishing the day ahead of MX1 regulars Saunders (Darryl August Kawasaki KX450F), Phillips (Rowlinson Honda CRF450), Whakatane’s Mitchell Rees (Tony Rees Motorcycles Honda CRF450), Tauranga’s Roydon White (KTM 450SXF) and Broxholme (Botany Honda CRF450F).

“I have not had much quality riding time lately because of the weather, so it was great to wipe away the cobwebs.

“The last time I raced a YZ450F was at the Veterans’ World Championships (in August), but it felt pretty good to be back on one.

“I will be racing a Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke at the nationals though and so it was also a good opportunity on Sunday to be trackside to watch some of the riders who will be my MX2 rivals.

“I will be back on the YZ250 at the Whakatane Summercross just after Christmas and be up against Queenstown’s Scotty Columb, who will be making his Yamaha debut there.”

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