Meanwhile, the female side of the sport is perhaps more of a hotbed for rising stars.
Three riders who are expected to shine among the women are Sarah Elwin from Taihape, Mikayla Rowe from New Plymouth and Courtney Duncan from Otago.
All have been in hot form at recent events.
The 19-year-old Elwin is the reigning New Zealand senior women's No 1, and 16-year-old Rowe was crowned the national junior women's motocross champion last November.
The two riders are determined to defend their titles at Southbridge on November 22 and 23.
But Kiwi international Duncan is on another level above them.
The 18-year-old from Palmerston - about halfway between Oamaru and Dunedin - stormed to victory on Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend at the annual MX Fest event in Taupo, and was one of the event's stand-out performers.
She scored three wins in the women's class on the Saturday, each time finishing ahead of Elwin, then posted a 1-3-4-1 scorecard against the men and boys in the national 125cc class the following day.
A week later, Elwin was sensational at the Waikato Motocross Championships, near Te Kuiti, topping the all-in women's class podium.
Rowe, riding an identical Yamaha YZ125, finished the day an impressive runner-up.
Third best in the class at Te Kuiti was Alana Lane, from Tuakau, riding a Suzuki RM-Z250, while Cambridge's Sandra Hannon (Honda), Opotiki's Amy Corston (Yamaha) and Otorohanga BikesportNZ.com rider Chloe Steel (Honda) rounded out the top six.
Elwin (Bike Torque MX Antix BikesportNZ.com YZ125), who works as a service writer at Bike Torque in Otorohanga, was seemingly untouchable as she scorched to three wins at Te Kuiti.
Rowe (Mach 1 Ideal Buildings BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ125) finished the day 11 points behind Elwin.
"Today it was just about me getting out there and having some bike time, because I need to be ready for the women's nationals," said Elwin afterwards.
"I really want to defend my national women's title in Canterbury ... it'll be nerve-racking, especially with Courtney [Duncan] lining up to race too."
Rowe was similarly impressive in Te Kuiti, especially as she has not been on her bike much in the past four months. The year 12 New Plymouth Girls' High School pupil looked strong throughout the day, notching up a 2-2-3 scorecard behind her senior and more experienced rival, and she will certainly be a title contender.
Oceania Hardwidge, from Turangi, won the junior women's 85cc two-stroke and 150cc four-stroke title last season, and Te Puke's Mary Wanhill won the veteran women's (over 30) crown.
They, too, could feature at Southbridge.
It's probably a no-brainer that recently retired former Grand Prix racer Josh Coppins will lead the way in the veteran men's action.
The 37-year-old Motueka man, a two-time former world No 2 and multi-time former New Zealand and British champion, has never really stopped riding since retiring from top-level competition after winning the Australian open class title in 2012.
We can also expect to see 43-year-old Canterbury rider Dean Baird among the leading veteran riders.
Others who could finish near the front of their classes include Nelson's Bryan Heaphy, Blenheim's Steve Lange, Te Puke's Robby Stewart, Inglewood's Nathan West, Cambridge's Damien King, Hamilton's Dwayne Rameka, New Plymouth's Mitch Rowe, Waimauku's Mark Buxeda, Te Kuiti's Wayne Strachan, Blenheim's Moston Wadsworth, Winton's Brent Scammell, Te Awamutu's Graham Adams and Palmerston North's Peter Palmer.
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