Whakatane Summercross sees a win and a podium for the Altherm JCR Yamaha team
Altherm JCR Yamaha Media Statement 28.12.20
Cover pic: Kayne Lamont #4
The Altherm JCR Yamaha team ended 2020 strongly with an overall MX1 win and third in MX2 at the annual Whakatane Summercross yesterday.
Kayne Lamont’s victory in the flagship class and Maximus Purvis’ podium also signal that the team’s riders mean business next year when the 2021 New Zealand Motocross Championship begins at the end of January.
For the Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager Josh Coppins it was a particularly satisfying result for Hamilton-based Lamont. “Kayne rode really well and this was a good calculated event from him. Probably the best and most controlled I’ve seen him ride for some time,” Coppins says.
The event’s five races followed a format where race one was 10 minutes and then the riders returned to the start to compete in a second 10-minute race. Lamont won the first two outings and was second in race three and four, which were also held back-to-back.
The fifth and final race had a joker lane, which featured a shortened lap that the riders could elect to use at any time to gain an advantage over their competitors. Whakatane is the only club that uses this feature and it adds excitement for the spectators and riders alike.
Lamont was tied on points with Cody Copper going into the final race – after battling with the former national champion all day - and with everything on the line, he holeshot that race and led from start to finish.
Lamont says he was very happy to be where he was on the bike and against his competitors.
“I am still in the mix of finding my final bike setup for nationals, which I will finalise with Ben Townley throughout January.”
“I had decent starts all day and managed to get to the front early in my first two races. In races 3 and 4, I managed to get to second behind Cody but the track was very difficult to pass on so I finished behind him. In the final race I got the holeshot and rode a nice smooth race with Cody right behind me the
whole time but I held him off to claim the win and the overall!" Lamont says.
Pic above: Maximus Purvis #44
Mangakino’s Purvis qualified second to Josiah Natzke and in the first, second and fourth races he was second right behind him. Purvis’s third and fifth races were punctuated with crashes that were reflected in his respective results of 4-3.
Coppins says: “It was a bit of a mixed bag from Max. He started off really fast. The track was a little bit hard to pass on and I think he got frustrated. Josiah was dominant and holeshot each race. I don’t think there was a pass for the lead all day but everyone knew that and that’s what made it so important to get
a good start.”
The 2020 MX2 champion, Purvis says he was disappointed with his results.
“We’ve got a few things to work on before Woodville so we will go away put our heads down and try to sort them out.”
Yamaha’s Brand Ambassadors had some positive results with the two more experienced riders showing the young bucks how it’s done. Former international star Ben Townley raced in MX2 and finished second overall. While Carter Coaching’s Rhys Carter finished third overall in MX1.
Coppins says the track was softer and sandier, “like it used to be traditionally” and the Whakatane Club did a great job preparing it.
“We will spend the next four weeks getting Kayne and Max further tuned in for round one of the nationals which coincides with the Woodville GP on January 31. Our new junior rider Madoc Dixon will return from his wrist injury rehab and we look forward to seeing how he goes in the 125cc class this season.”
CAPTIONS:
Altherm JCR Yamaha rider Kayne Lamont rides to victory in the MX1 class at the Whakatane
Summercross yesterday.
MX2 rider for the Altherm JCR Yamaha team Maximus Purvis finished third overall at the
Whakatane Summercross yesterday.
PHOTOS CREDIT: CLMINTIEPIX
RESULTS:
MX1
1st Kayne Lamont (YZ450F) – 242
2nd Cody Cooper – 238
3rd Rhys Carter (YZ450F) – 213
4th Ethan Martens – 206
5th Tommy Watts (YZ450F) – 196
MX2
1st Josiah Natzke – 250
2nd Ben Townley (YZ250F) – 219
3rd Maximus Purvis (YZ250F) – 219
4th James Scott – 212
5th Luke van der Lee – 197
2020/21 ALTHERM JCR YAMAHA RACE SCHEDULE:
24th & 25th October 2020 – Taupo MX Fest
27th & 28th December 2020 – SummerCross, Whakatane
30th & 31st January 2021 – Woodville Grand Prix, Palmerston North
2021 New Zealand Motocross Championship
Round One – tied into Woodville Grand Prix – 31st January 2021
Round Two – Rotorua – 21st February 2021
Round Three – Hawkes Bay – 20th March 2021
Round Four – Taupo – 28th 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.