For the first time ever, Southland Motorcycle Club has claimed the iconic Battle of the Clubs motocross fundraiser held in Taupo at the weekend.
North King Country rider Cooper Phillips #112 and Southland MCC rider Jack Treloar #845 lead the way at the start of this race on Saturday. Photo: Andy McGechan/BikesportNZ.com
It was a coming together of epic proportions for New Zealand’s motocross elite on Saturday and it was all for a good cause. Run by the Taupo Motorcycle Club at the Digger McEwen Motocross Park facility, this year’s Battle of the Clubs (BOTC) fundraiser event delivered once more with funds collected from donations, an auction and team entries now being put towards New Zealand’s next Motocross of Nations (MXoN) campaign on the other side of the world.
Just like the international MXoN, on which the domestic BOTC event is based, the team-versus-team format used for Saturday’s cash-builder event in Taupo has long proven to be immensely popular with the New Zealand motocross community.
Host Taupo Motorcycle Club president Bevan Weal said he was greatly impressed by the spirit of participants at the event.
“We raised nearly $9000 and it was astonishing to see some spectators flinging $50 notes at us as they entered the main gate,” he said.
Riders from across the country lined up according to club or provincial loyalties, rather than bike brand, or regular race team allegiances.
“We raised nearly $9000 and it was astonishing to see some spectators flinging $50 notes at us as they entered the main gate.”
Taupo Motorcycle Club president Bevan Weal
The Southland Motorcycle Club made a huge effort to participate, and they were rewarded when they won the battle overall for the first time since the event’s inaugural running in 2010.
The Southlanders accepted the challenge of facing difficult weather and travel conditions and made the journey with what became a winning team that comprised New Zealand No.3 MX1 rider, Jack Symon, Jack Treloar in the MX2 class, former New Zealand MX1 champion Justin McDonald racing in veterans’ category, along with juniors Ryan Keen, Ben Costello and Riki Butson.
“This is something really special to celebrate,” offered Mel Symon after the result came through. “To see Southland Motorcycle Club achieve this for the first time is a credit to the talent, hard work and commitment right throughout the club. From the juniors coming through to the seniors leading the way, every rider has played their part. And congratulations to our Southland club members who were selected to represent the South Island team and helped secure the North vs South victory as well. Two achievements the club should be incredibly proud of.”
“To see Southland Motorcycle Club achieve this for the first time is a credit to the talent, hard work and commitment right throughout the club. From the juniors coming through to the seniors leading the way, every rider has played their part.”
Mel Symon
Nothing epitomises the unity and comradeship that exists in the New Zealand motocross community more than perhaps the BOTC event. The many spectators witnessed plenty of evidence of this good-humoured and friendly rivalry as individuals from all corners of the country came together to encourage their riders with horns, flags, banners and by wearing unique club-branded riding apparel.
The winning Battle of the Clubs team from Southland Motorcycle Club (from left): Jack Symon, Ryan Keen, Justin McDonald, Jack Treloar, Ben Costello and Riki Butson. Photo: MNZ/Mike Keen
Even though such an event is challenged by geography and motorcycle clubs are often separated by obstacles such as the waters of the Cook Strait, they flocked together to battle one another in the interest of raising funds to assist Kiwis racing overseas.
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 is every reason to believe that New Zealand can achieve this remarkable feat again given the success that several Kiwi riders are having internationally right now.
Club riders always get right behind their teams at the Battle of the Clubs event. Photo: Andy McGechan/BikesportNZ.com
Results from the 2026 Battle of the Clubs
Overall team: 1. Southland MCC; 2. Pukekohe MCC; 3. Patetonga MCC.
Seniors: 1. Southland MCC; 2. Patetonga MCC; 3. Pukekohe MCC.
Juniors: 1. Martinborough MC Club; 2. North King Country MCC; 3. Manawatu-Orion MCC.
Minis: 1. Pukekohe MCC; 2. North King Country MCC: 3. Taranaki MCC.
North versus South: South Island (Justin Macdonald, Jack Symon, Jack Treloar, Ryder Solly, Ben Costello, Kase Shuttleworth).
