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Photo - The 2004 NZ MX Champion, Daryl Hurley at Harrisville.
Photo - Courtesy Shayne Rice:
One of New Zealand’s most popular motocross riders, Hawera’s Daryl Hurley, has been crowned New Zealand 125cc MX champion for the fourth time in a career spanning nearly twelve years as a senior rider. Riding in possibly the most competitive class with no less than forty other competitors, this win may be the sweetest and hardest fought of all the titles earned by Hurley.
With four rounds making up this years championship, spanning the country from Timaru to Auckland, it was a real test for riders, especially Hurley, who had to contend with flying back and forth from the States for each of the first three rounds because of his contract with the US based Motoworld.com Suzuki team. "The jet lag effected me more than I expected, but I think the hardest part was flying from the US summer weather of mid 30’s right into a NZ winter" said Hurley.
Riding in New Zealand now on a fresh two-year contract with the "Alpinestars Suzuki" team, Hurley is home to stay after agreeing to a similar contract with an Australian Suzuki team for the same period. Aboard his "Alpinestars Suzuki" RM-Z250 four stroke at the final round in Auckland, Hurley knew that the slender three point lead held from Honda’s Cody Cooper left little margin for error. Cooper, fresh from winning the Australian 125cc championships, had failed to fire in earlier rounds with only consistency helping him through to second. It was a completely different rider that hit the track in the final at Auckland. Leading from the gate in race one Cooper never looked back leaving Daryl for second place and even on points for race two. Hurley, now with a championship to win, pressed hard from the start leading the race from the front and with Cooper chasing from mid pack, it was obvious that Hurley’s place was on Coopers shopping list. Passing in the closing stages of the race, Cooper was riding in a class of his own to cross the finish line in first place leaving Hurley now three points in arrears.
Starting the last race in the position of basically having to win was not the way Hurley wanted to finish the championship and with nothing to lose and everything to gain, Cooper was looking odds on favorite for the win, especially with the speed shown in race one and two. Hurley lead from the start and with the throttle set in one position only, went about tying the championship on points. Cooper, on the other hand, struggled with the mid pack after an average start. Making positions and carving up the pack, Cooper was catching throughout the race closing the deficit to less than four seconds by the end - but for a jubilant Hurley the championship was his on a count back of wins throughout the series.
"I’m pleased that’s over, it was hard out there today but the RM-Z ran strong all day and we’ve got the result, that’s all that counts", said Hurley.
Backing up this win was Queenstown’s "Alpinestars Suzuki" team rider Scott Columb, with a solid third overall and best ever nationals finish for the 21-year-old rider.
