NZ Motocross Nationals update

MX1:

• 28 entries as at 9pm Monday night but no Josh Coppins or Blake Gillard - I am told they are both going ?

MX2: 

• 40 entries thus far,
• Daniel McCoy from Australia riding for Team Power Balance Suzuki.
• Cody Mackie from Australia riding for Timaru Honda.
• Rhys Carter is back.  He rode to 3rd in MX2 at the Valley Champs yesterday.
• Darryll King is entered on the YZ250 2-stroke and Damien King on the YZ250F.  
  
• Yamaha's Peter Payne told me he was not riding - he was managing.
• 8 days ago on the www.holeshot.co.nz Message Board DK said;  "After winning my 61st National title at Woodville this year I am looking forward to being Team Manager for Rockstar Yamaha during the upcoming Motocross Championships. Having riders like Josh Coppins, Hayden Clarke, Ethan Martens and Damien King riding for our team is pretty cool. I'm really looking forward to cheering everyone on during the four rounds series. I'd rather be racing on my YZ250 and going head to head with Burger and DH but I have a job to do for the other riders on the team. I will have my chance to race again sometime soon, probably in Holland or USA in April and May. All the best to everyone competing in the Motocross Championships this year. There will be some surprises and upsets. The strongest and most determined riders will win unless lady luck decides to play a part. In motor racing never say never! See you at the races. DK"  Mmmmmm ?
  
• Yesterday at the Valley Champs DK won MX2. 
  
• DK was almost 2 seconds quicker than Luke Burkhart in practice.  
• In Race 1 he beat Damien by by 4.7 secs - Burkhart had led for 2 laps but DNF'd into Lap 3. DK took the lead on the last lap.
• In Race 2 he was 1.9 secs in front of Carter who was 1.9 in front of Damien.
• DK won Race 3 by 13 secs to Damien.
• Brad Groombridge is back from injury.
• Tony Cooksley is riding,
  
• Biggest surprise is Hamish Dobbyn - back after a long layoff after surgery on a nasty knee injury - no bike brand or sponsors named.
  

125 Class: 

• 23 entries to date.
• Biggest surprise is Shaun Fogarty riding for CMR Race Team KTM.  He won all three 125 races at Valley Champs yesterday by good margins; 20, 24 and 7 seconds.  Rockstar Yamaha's Ethan Martens was not there. 
  
• 17 year old Evan Hood is entered on a KTM but he will be riding for Fly Team Green Kawasaki on Mike Cotter's bike.  Mike did a tibia/fibia and thumb at Woodville.  

Racing:

• There will be a 30 gate start in MX 1, MX 2 & 125cc.
• Those riders not qualifying will move to the MX 3 class where there will be 40 starters.
  
• Based on the above entries that's only 10 for MX3.
• Practice & Qualifying will be run together. Three laps practice then once the first rider finishes
  their 3rd lap, green flag will come out to begin the Qualifying session. 30 minutes total.
  
• Gate selection for riders will be by qualifying times. The qualifying position will be held for all races. 
• Race duration for MX1, MX2 and 125 is three 20 minute + 2 lap races.
• MX 3 is three 12 minute + 1 lap races.