Teams racing of the highest order is set to light up the track at Taupo on Saturday, July 11, 2026, as the venue once again hosts the annual Battle of the Clubs motocross event.
Battle of the Clubs, run by the Taupo Motorcycle Club at the Digger McEwen Motocross Park facility, has again attracted some of the nation’s best riders. Photo: Andy McGechan/bikesportnz.com
The much-admired event, run by the Taupo Motorcycle Club at the Digger McEwen Motocross Park facility, has again attracted some of the nation’s best riders.
Saturday’s action is dedicated to raising funds to help Kiwi racers overseas, including sending a three-rider New Zealand squad to compete at the annual Motocross of Nations (MXoN) on the other side of the world.
Just like the international MXoN, on which the domestic Battle of the Clubs (BOTC) event is based, the team-versus-team format used for Saturday’s cash-builder event in Taupo has been immensely popular with the New Zealand motocross community. Riders from across the country line up according to club or provincial loyalties, rather than bike brand, or regular race team allegiances.
“Clubs are the heartbeat of our sport,” offers Motorcycling New Zealand’s Operations Manager Vicky Hicks. “Our clubs have an impact from grassroots right through to our international stars. They’re a big reason why New Zealand punches above its weight on the international motorcycle racing stage, and this event embodies that passion and energy.”
The Battle of the Clubs will feature mini riders, juniors and women, as well as seniors and veterans.
The MXoN this year is set to be held in France, on the hilly grassland at Ernée, near Rennes in north-west France, on the weekend of October 3-4.
Often referred to as the “Olympic Games of Motocross”, the MXoN is the ultimate stage for international motocross competition and various teams sent by New Zealand over the years have always been well respected and highly regarded.
The silver fern flag has been flown on the final podium at the MXoN on three memorable occasions in the past – in England in 1998, in Belgium in 2001 and in England again in 2006. There’s every reason to believe that New Zealand can achieve this remarkable feat again given the success our riders are having internationally right now.
There will no doubt be some exciting match-ups at BOTC on Saturday, with likely draw-card riders such as Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper, Oparau’s James Scott, Huntly’s Josiah Natzke, and Taupo’s Maximus Purvis, among others, looking to make a few waves on behalf of whichever club they might be representing.
Cooper, Scott, Natzke, and Purvis have each represented New Zealand at the MXoN in the past and know the importance of this event on the world stage.
Impressive entries have again been received from far and wide, with several teams travelling up from the South Island, too.
Southland Motorcycle Club is currently negotiating challenging weather and travel conditions as they head up the country with a strong team that includes New Zealand’s number 3 MX1 rider, Jack Symon, Jack Treloar in MX2, Justin McDonald in veterans along with juniors Ryan Keen, Ben Costello and Riki Butson.
Words and photos by Andy McGechan/www.BikesportNZ.com
Club riders always get behind their teams at the Battle of the Clubs motocross event. Photo: Andy McGechan/BikesportNZ.com
