- Round one - New Zealand Motocross Championship - Pleasant Point, Timaru - 125cc & U/21 racing format 3 x 20 minute motos plus two laps - MX1 & MX2 racing format 3 x 25 minutes motos plus two laps - Event date 11 October
Moto 1 = “I got off to a good start in the first moto amongst the top three,” said Martens. “Hayden McKay was leading, and I moved up into second, and then Damien King passed me three corners later. I passed him back, and then about five laps into the race I passed Hayden McKay for the lead, and started pulling away. Towards the end of the race I made a mistake in the corner, and hurt myself coming off the bike which slowed me down, and the by the time I got back up again the best I could do was maintain third.
Moto 2 = “I got the hole shot in the second moto, but let Hayden McKay passed to wear himself out, because I reviewed after the first race he goes really fast at the start, and doesn’t have endurance passed the fifteen minute mark. I stayed in second and then made my pass at the half way point. I ended up winning that race by a couple of hundred metres.
Moto 3 = “I got the hole shot in the third moto, again letting Hayden pass me after the first corner, but this time I had to be more cautious because Damien King was right on my back wheel. At around the ten minute mark, I took the lead, but it was a hard fought battle to the end with me and Damien, I won by around four seconds. I was happy that combined my results have given me the lead in the 125cc class, and the Under 21 class which is a competitive edge going into the next round.”
Shaun Fogarty MX1 (round result 16-4-6)
Moto 1 = “I got an ok start and was running around fourth or fifth until the twenty minute mark, and then I got a flat tyre,” said Fogarty. “The best I could do was ensure I finished the race to bring home some points, and I crossed the finish line in 16th with a flat.
Moto 2 = “I got a reasonable start in the top eight and in the last 10 minutes I started gaining on the front runners. Damien King, Cody Cooper and Mason Phillips were all ahead of me, and I could see that it may have been possible to catch Mason Phillips who was in third. I was chasing him as hard as I could for a podium but he just beat me by a bike length, so I had to settle for fourth.
Moto 3 = “I got an average start in the final moto, and got tangled up in the corner. This put me mid pack, and I had trouble finding lines to get passed the slower riders. I was fatigued towards the end of this moto, but managed to work my way up to sixth, and that’s where I finished for the round.
“I was hoping for a better result, but the flat in moto one didn’t help me in points. I haven’t had a lot of bike time on the KTM yet, since I’m so new to the team, but the more practice I get I’m sure the better I will finish.”
Henry Madams MX2 (round result DNF)
Moto 1 – “I got off to a good start, but on lap seven I crashed and copped a handlebar stab to the stomach," said Madams. “This put me out of the race, and I was too injured to get back into things for the final two motos, so unfortunately I came home with a DNF, but I’ll be back at the next round eager to make up in lost points.”
