Altherm JCR Yamaha team takes positives and plenty to build on away from Taupo MX Fest

Altherm JCR Yamaha Media Statement 26 SEPT 2020 

 

The ‘M’ in the Taupo MX Fest could easily stand for ‘massive’ as it aptly describes the jam-packed schedule of three days racing in Taupo, as the country’s riders had their first competitive hit-out for the season at Digger McEwen Motocross Park.

 

Altherm JCR Yamaha’s two riders were mixing with the front-runners in their classes and came away with podium positions and a good handle on where they can improve.

 

MX1 rider Kayne Lamont enjoyed getting aboard his YZ450F and the mental skills he has been working on recently paid dividends, as he powered to third overall.

 

“The weekend’s racing was a great time for me. I rode very calm and in control, which I was happy with.”

 

Hamilton-based Lamont (25) says he hasn’t had “massive amounts of time on the bike” having just recovered from a thumb injury, leaving him satisfied with his 4-3-3 set of results.  

“I have two months of prep now before SummerCross, so I will try do as much as possible with bike time and continue testing parts to finalise my set-up for the summer,” he says.

 PIC: KAYNE LAMONT AT MX FEST TAUPO 2020

CAPTION : Altherm JCR Yamaha MX1 rider Kayne Lamont (YZ450F) was pleased with his third overall placing at the Taupo MX Fest .

Defending national MX2 champion Maximus Purvis, of Mangakino, notched up two podiums finishing runner-up in his first and third races yesterday. A fourth in the second race relegated him to second overall for the weekend on his YZ250F.

 

Purvis (20) believed he “just lacked the fitness” to ride for the victories but vows: “I’ll definitely be ready for SummerCross at the end of December.”

 

PIC: MAXIMUS PURVIS AT MX FEST TAUPO 2020

CAPTION: Altherm JCR Yamaha MX2 rider Maximus Purvis (YZ250F) finished second overall in his class at the Taupo MX Fest yesterday.

Lamont gained some extra racing time competing in the Bell Dirt Sprints on Friday night, where he placed second. On the Saturday evening, he then took part in the demonstration event for Ben Townley’s motorsport innovation SX4, which combines four riders, four laps, four corners and four obstacles into two minutes of action-packed racing. Reaching the final, Lamont went on to place third in this new form of racing, which will have its debut event back at the same Taupo venue - Digger McEwen Park - on Saturday, January 9, 2021.

 

Altherm JCR Yamaha team manager Josh Coppins described his riders’ performances as “respectable.”

 

“The team achieved lots of seconds and thirds over the weekend. No wins unfortunately and we’ve got a bit of work to do,” he says.

 

“Both riders have been doing a lot of work but in their actual jobs (building for Lamont and earth moving contracting for Purvis). We knew coming into the event that this was the case and expected it. They both achieved respectable results considering the amount of seat time they’ve had. Now they need to put a bit more time into their riding and knuckle down with the summer of racing coming up.”

 

After the long winter motocross off-season, Coppins enjoyed seeing the Altherm JCR Yamaha team come together again.

 “It was a great event for us as a team and everyone got along really well. It was a massive weekend of three days racing, hence why it’s called the MX Fest! Starting on Friday with the Battle of the Clubs fundraising event for the Kiwi Motocross of Nations team, then supporting our bLUcRU riders in their junior racing on Saturday, followed by our seniors on Sunday,” he says.

 

“We had great Yamaha brand representation across the weekend on both days and were also pleased to see our brand ambassador Carter Coaching’s Rhys Carter finish fourth in MX1.”

  

PHOTO CREDITS: CLMINTIEPIX.

 

 

RESULTS: 

 

MX1

1^st Cody Cooper – 91

2^nd Hamish Harwood – 91

3^rd Kayne Lamont (YZ450F) – 78  

4^th Rhys Carter (YZ450F) – 73

5^th Campbell King – 52

9^th Tommy Watts (YZ450F) – 39

10^th Richard Horne (YZ450F) – 37

MX2 ​
1^st Josiah Natzke – 93

2^nd Maximus Purvis (YZ250F) – 78

3^rd Brodie Connolly – 71

4^th Seton Head – 54

5^th Jack Treloar – 46

 

 

2020/21 ALTHERM JCR YAMAHA RACE SCHEDULE:

 

24^th & 25^th October 2020 – Taupo MX Fest

27^th & 28^th December 2020 – SummerCross, Whakatane

30^th & 31^st January 2021 – Woodville Grand Prix, Palmerston North

 

2021 New Zealand Motocross Championship (dates and venues TBC)

Round One – tied into Woodville Grand Prix – 31^st January 2021  

Round Two – Rotorua – 21^st February 2021

Round Three – Hawkes Bay – 21^st March 2021

Round Four – Taupo – 28^th March 2021

 

 

 

ALTHERM JCR YAMAHA WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS:

Altherm Window Systems, JCR, Yamaha Motor New Zealand, Yamalube, GYTR, bLUcRU, YMF, YMI, Akrapovic, Holland Collision Centre, Ward Demolition, Star Moving, Contract Consultants, Fox, Workshop Graphics, Pirelli, DID, Renthal, Motomuck, Vertex, Twin Air, Motoseat and SKF.