40th Anniversary of Summercross

The 40th Anniversary Summercross on 27/28 December is shaping up to be the event of year.  As at noon today entries totalled 321, made up of 55 Mini, 140 Juniors/Women and 126 Seniors/Vets.

Note that this year will see the Seniors ride on the first day, the 27th. 

The timing is perfect for the return to competition by Yamaha star Josh Coppins who has been laid up for five months with a shoulder injury since the last round of the Australian Rockstar MX Champs at Coolum on 31 July.  It was in the third moto of the day, as the riders hit the first turn. Dean Ferris went down and Coppins with nowhere to go hit Ferris' bike and also went down, taking the impact on his shoulder, dislocating it.  It was an end to his Championship run.  Post surgery in Belgium he developed an infection and had several subsequent operations.

As big an attraction, is to watch Ben Townley race on home soil.  His 2nd place in the first Moto at the US$1million Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas on 16 October stunned the MX World.  Back to full fitness 26-year-old Townley was evaluating Lucas Oil AMA Outdoors opportunities but signed with Honda to race for the Carlton Dry Honda race team in Australia in 2012 (team-mate is British rider, Brad Anderson) and at National level events here in New Zealand such as Summercross,  Woodville GP and the 4-round New Zealand MX Champs.

Both will ride in the MX2 Class and amongst the 18 entries is Cody Cooper, Mason Phillips, Mike Phillips, Hayden Clark and Brad Groombridge.

There are 43 entries in MX2 and they will close at 57 entries.  MX2 & Youth MX classes are limited to 57 entries, as those two classes will have qualifying, with the top 38 qualifying and the non-qualifiers going into a support class titled MX3 - 19 non qualifiers from each makes up a MX3 class of 38.  Like it was at the recent Auckland Champs both these classes provide the very best of MX action.

That Youth MX Class is titled MC2XS and YMX and is limited to 125cc and 250cc riders aged 15 to 21 years.

Thus far in the Vets there are 19 entries in the +35 years and 11 in the +45 years.   Whilst Tony Cooksley has yet to enter but we know he is going to. How could he miss the 40th time he has raced at Summercross?  

Two weeks ago, the Club had to run on the same day as the Auckland Champs as it was their final club round and prizegiving with a great turnout at Awakaponga.  263 riders including Minis, Juniors & Seniors.

Two class lap records were set on the new track:

• Senior A:   1:22.908 for Sen A Lites by Peter Smit.
• Vets: 1:25.709 for Vets 35+ by Darren Capill.