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Photo - First corner action at Timaru:
By Andy McGechan. Email Andy He just may have a photo of you?
Chapter two of the SSANGYONG NZ 2004 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP will unfold this Sunday at Rotorua. The majority of the major contenders have paid plenty of airport tax since the opener in Timaru three weeks ago.
125 Class pacesetter, Daryl Hurley, is commuting from the USA whilst he completes his team commitments there. In the meantime, Cody Cooper, sitting in second, has added the Australian Prolite (125) title to his CV. Behind Hurley and Cooper there is a log jam of very well performed riders including Scott Columb (Queenstown), Michael Phillips (Rotorua) and Wellington’s Barry Morris who gave Hurley a huge fright when he kept the lead for most of the last race at Timaru.
The 250 class, being run for the last year, is determined to go out with a bang. Australian, Danny Ham is regaining Australian parity- his win and two seconds in the South Island ensures that he has an 11 point lead over Peter Broxholme (Tauranga). The eyes have to be cast down to fifth before the King name appears- this, thanks to a DNF for Shayne in the last race at Timaru.
Shayne King (New Plymouth) owns the number one plate in the 500cc (Open) class as the defending champion. Older brother, Darryll, is in his slipstream, he collected the Australian Pro Open Title in the intermission. Darryll (Hamilton) only has a one point buffer from Corrie Sargent (Wellington) and the highly decorated Queensland rider, Troy Carroll, who competed in the Australian Supercross Championships last weekend.
The NZ Women’s Championship adjourns until round four. The Kiwi women have joined in the plundering of the Australian titles. Domestic leader, Katherine Prumm (Pukekohe) performed a clean sweep of the races in the last round of the Australian Championships two weeks ago.
The rejuvenated Rotorua Club has not staged a round of the nationals since 1989 – the new pumice based track holds the key to the mystery of chapter two
Points after round one
125 D Hurley 63, C Cooper 50 /S Columb 50,
250 D Ham 69, P Broxholme 58, M Penny / S Fogarty 53
500 S King 70, D King 64, C Sargent 63
