Motocross: Carter lands MX2 ride with Oz Suzuki team

BIG BREAK: Mount Maunganui rider Rhys Carter will contest the 10-round Australian MX Nationals. PHOTO/GREG HENDERSON

Mount Maunganui's Rhys Carter has landed a ride with Suzuki's MX2 motocross squad in Australia, confirming his position among the elite of New Zealand's full-time dirt bike racers.

Carter, 25, is switching from an MX1 programme in Australia last year and the recent NZ Champs to return to the MX2 (250cc) class for the Raceline Pirelli Suzuki Seven team in the 10-round Australian MX Nationals which begin this weekend.

"It's an awesome opportunity for me with a top team," said Carter.

"Most of my experience has been on 250s but I think the year I've spent on a 450 will help me. I know I can do well over there."

With his team-mate Brock McLeary injured, Carter will be the team's sole rider for the first round of the series at Horsham, Victoria on Sunday.

"The goal is to be consistent and to shine when I can," said Carter.

Carter raced in Australia for Suzuki last year and delivered a string of top-10 MX1 results before a crash at a mid-winter Taupo event ended his season with a broken wrist.

Returning to a 250cc bike means a few adjustments in Carter's training regime.

"I've spent a bit of time on a 250 in the last three weeks.

"I've worked on getting a bit lighter and to get the heart rate up.

"There's more intensity because you have to ride harder on a 250."

Carter finished eighth in MX1 in the recently completed New Zealand champs, after a frustrating start at the New Plymouth series opener.

"I had bike trouble and also got cleaned out at the first round and then I got cleaned out again in the second round [Timaru]."

Carter's programme places him among a small group of Kiwi riders chasing international motocross success this year.

Hamilton teenager Josiah Natzke, who won the 125cc national title, is preparing to race in the European 125cc Championship.

Bay of Plenty riders Cody Cooper (Papamoa) and John Phillips (Rotorua) will contest the MX1 class of the Australian Champs and Takaka's Hamish Harwood - who finished runner-up to Australian Jay Wilson in the New Zealand MX2 series - will be among Carter's rivals in the MX2 class.