Invercargill’s Southland Motorcycle Club (SMCC) hosted a successful debut into senior national level motocross racing, with the Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motocross Championship’s season opener held at The Sandpit yesterday.
Motorcycling New Zealand Operations Manager Vicky Hicks says: “Round one was a fantastic success thanks to our riders, crews, and volunteers. We are looking forward to carrying that momentum into round two this weekend.
The top level MX1 class was dominated by Altherm JCR Yamaha’s defending champion Maximus Purvis, who won all three races. The fast man from Mangakino bested Huntly Honda rider Josiah Natzke in each outing, with local Jack Symon (Honda CRF450R) wrapping up third for the round on his home track.
Purvis says he “did what [he] needed to do” to pull out a 9-point lead over Natzke.
“Now I’m looking forward to this weekend to repeat the same as yesterday and have a good points lead heading into the final two rounds.”
In the MX2 class, it was newcomer to the category Hayden Draper of Karaka, who rode his Yamaha machine to overall victory with a 1-5-1 scorecard. His teammate James Scott returned from a knee injury sustained last year, to finish runner-up. The battle for the third step of the podium was won by Nelson Husqvarna rider Alexander Brown.
Draper says he was “so stoked with [his] weekend,” in what was his first New Zealand Championship round with the Altherm JCR Yamaha team.
“The first round of nationals was great for me, starting the day off well with P1 in qualifying and two race wins, plus the overall. The bike is unreal and I’m so happy with it.”
In the 125cc class, Levin’s GasGas contender Phoenix Van Dusschoten (72 points) edged out newcomer to the senior championship, Waipukurau Yamaha rider Carson Carroll (67 points), for the top overall spot. Tauranga-based GasGas charger Ethan Carleton sits 10-points shy of Carrol in third.
Invercargill’s Dekan Harris put home track advantage to good use to take out the MX3 category with fellow Southlander Dylan Marshall finishing in second place. Getting some good seat time ahead of the Women’s Motocross Championship starting in February at the Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motocross Championship’s third round, Taupo rider Mikalya Griffiths finished in third place.
Following in his father Josh’s successful footsteps, Nixon Coppins had a flawless start to the season in the MX85 Cup class, pulling off a hattrick of race wins.
The Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motocross Championship takes a brief break before resuming this Saturday, with the South Otago Motorcycle Club hosting the second round in Balclutha. It allows the North Island teams to stay down south and the travel time this week is just under two hours up the highway to the Riverside Reserve Track.
The track is located at 34 Glasgow St. Entry is $20 per person, under 15-years free. Food and coffee available.
NZMX CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS – ROUND ONE:
MX1
1st Maximus Purvis (YZ450) – 75
2nd Josiah Natzke – 66
3rd Jack Symon – 56
MX2
1st Hayden Draper (YZ250F) – 66
2nd James Scott (YZ250) – 64
3rd Alexander Brown – 62
MX125
1st Phoenix van Dusschoten – 72
2nd Carson Carroll (YZ125) – 67
3rd Ethan Carleton – 57
MX3 Cup
1st Dekan Harris – 75
2nd Dylan Marshall – 66
3rd Mikalya Griffiths– 53
MX85 Cup
1st Nixon Coppins (YZ85) – 75
2nd Eli Giles – 60
3rd Levi McMaster – 60
NZMX CHAMPIONSHIP OVERALL RESULTS:
MX1
1st Maximus Purvis – 75
2nd Josiah Natzke – 66
3rd Jack Symon – 56
MX2
1st Hayden Draper– 66
2nd James Scott – 64
3rd Alexander Brown – 62
MX125
1st Phoenix van Dusschoten – 72
2nd Carson Carroll – 67
3rd Ethan Carleton – 57
MX3 Cup
1st Dekan Harris – 75
2nd Dylan Marshall – 66
3rd Mikalya Griffiths– 53
MX85 Cup
1st Nixon Coppins – 75
2nd Eli Giles – 60
3rd Levi McMaster – 60
CAPTION: Altherm JCR Yamaha’s recent recruit Hayden Draper, of Karaka, won the MX2 overall round at the Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motocross Championship’s season opener at Invercargill’s Sandpit track yesterday. PHOTO CREDIT: DEREK MORRISON PHOTOGRAPHY
2026 Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motocross Championship calendar:
Round 1 16 November 2025 – Invercargill
Round 2 22 November 2025 – Balclutha
Round 3 21 February 2026 – Tauranga
Round 4 28 February 2026 – Rotorua
