Motocross: Surprises in all three classes

The MX1 (450cc) class podium on Sunday, Rotorua's John Phillips (left) in third, Queenstown's Scott Columb in first, and Australian Kirk Gibbs in second. Photo / Andy McGechan / Bikesportnz.com

Upsets and surprises were the theme of the day's racing at the first round of four in this year's New Zealand Motocross Championships.

The JT Racing-sponsored series started at the popular Barrett Road Motorcycle Park in Taranaki on Sunday.

It was a scintillating day of race action where none of the riders who had been widely tipped as title favourites ended up on the top steps of their respective podiums.

Defending MX1 (450cc) champion Cody Cooper, of Mount Maunganui, had been expected to follow on from his dominant MX1 performance at the New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville a fortnight ago, and Rotorua's Michael Phillips (Honda) had perhaps been expected to do likewise in the MX2 (250cc) class, while defending national 125cc champion Josiah Natzke (KTM), of Hamilton, had been tipped to again make the 125cc class his own.

However, after three races on Sunday in each of the championship categories it was a completely different outcome.

Queenstown's Scott Columb (Yamaha) ended up on top of the MX1 class, Australian visitor Jay Wilson (Yamaha) topped the MX2 (250cc) class and Taupo's Cohen Chase (Yamaha) ruled the 125cc division.

There is a long way to go with three rounds - and nine races - in each class still required to settle the issue. But if anything can be said about this championship chase, it's impossible to predict.

Sadly, it was a disastrous weekend for a couple of title contenders including Rotorua's MX2 class hopeful Phillips who crashed during the practice and qualifying session earlier in the day and he broke his collarbone.

Taupo's Wyatt Chase dropped out of the first of the day's 125cc class races, also with a broken collarbone. The series heads to Pleasant Point, near Timaru, for round two on February 22. Round three is set for Rotorua on March 8, with the fourth and final round at Pukekohe on March 15.