The halfway event of the four-round Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championship marked a bittersweet turning point for the Altherm JCR Yamaha team on the weekend, for more reasons than one.

The trio of riders endured a variety of fortunes on Saturday, in this sport that can be as cruel as it is kind.

In the positive corner was Mangakino’s MX1 master Maximus Purvis continuing to deliver his powerhouse performances and extending his lead in the championship’s top division.

Going 1-1-2 gave him the overall win and also a healthy 19-point lead - with 147 points - over his closest rival, runner-up Josiah Natzke (128 points). Defending MX1 champion Hamish Harwood is a close third in the championship on 123 points.

Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager Josh Coppins was at the track and witnessed the hot, dry weather turn the track “super gnarly by the end of the day and resulted in very tricky conditions.”

“Maximus made a mistake in moto 3 and just decided the track was very technical and to bring it home and settle for second and extend the championship lead,” he said.

For Purvis it was another successful hit-out.

“It was another good weekend for me coming away with the overall and I’m feeling good for the next round. I definitely need to do some more work on my starts before Pukekohe,” he promises.

Rising star Levi Townley won the MX125cc class again for the round with a 1-1-4 scorecard. His story is a case of being so good it’s almost a tough pill to swallow, Coppins explains.

“He’s had an extremely successful time with Altherm JCR Yamaha. Yesterday was a bittersweet day because it's his last ride for us," Coppins said.

"He moves on to Europe this Monday and starts the EMX Championship in a few weeks, around the same time we are back at Rotorua for round 4."

Altherm JCR Yamaha’s MX125 rider Levi Townley leads the MX125 class after scoring an overall round win in Rotorua but heads to Europe tomorrow to compete in the EMX Championship. Photo / CD Photography. 

Coppins said in his situation, Levi has almost been too successful in the Yamaha pathway programme.

"He did around four races for the Altherm JCR Yamaha team and although it’s a good problem to have, it’s also sad not to see him wrap up the 125 championship for us.

"As we have witnessed, he is certainly more than capable but he has bigger fish to fry and we are proud but also a little bit sad.”

Tauranga’s Townley showed his grit after crashing at the start of moto 3, which left him dead last. Undeterred, the young charger weaved his way back up through the field to finish fourth. It was the only 125cc moto out of the six he rode in the motocross championship that he did not win.

Townley describes it as an “up and down day for me. My starts weren’t very good which put me in some bad situations.”

He had an eventful series of motos, with a last corner pass for the win in moto 2 and a “really big crash” in moto 3, which damaged his clutch lever so badly he couldn’t use it.

"Big thanks to Altherm JCR Yamaha for all their support through the years. They gave me so many opportunities and I wouldn't be able to go to Europe without them. Also a big thanks to my mechanic Luke for all the help over the past two weekends," Townley said.

Oparau MX2 rider James Scott is undoubtedly the rider the team’s hearts go out to. His day started well, swapping wins with Madoc Dixon to finish 2-1. But then Coppins explains how the smallest of incidents, can have the largest of consequences.

“In the third moto he was leading and tied for the championship lead, when he had a small tip over and hurt his knee. James was unable to ride on and recorded a DNF. We believe he has suffered quite a serious knee injury but we will know more after an MRI. At this stage, it is looking unlikely we will have him back for the remainder of the season," Coppins said.

“We are all really disappointed for James and disappointed to not have him in the championship hunt as he was certainly right there. He's put a lot  into this season and was riding well yesterday. This is his first injury with us and we are hoping for the best outcome for him."

Scott said it was “a bit of a rough day.”

“Although, it started off pretty good and I got second in the first moto after a good battle with Madoc. Then in the second moto, I managed to win that. The last moto when I hurt my knee, I was in the lead, which makes it even more of a bummer because I could have left there with the points lead but that’s how racing goes sometimes I suppose.”

One silver lining in the MX2 category was Yamaha Japan rider Souya Nakajima (YZ250F), who has been training and riding with the Altherm JCR Yamaha team, achieved his first overall podium result in the NZ Championship with a third place.

His compatriot Junya Tanaka also had a successful day, recording his highest finishing position  of 10th overall, in his New Zealand campaign to date.

Coppins said the Altherm JCR Yamaha team will regroup over the next couple of weeks and come out firing for Pukekohe.

“We wish the Townley family all the best as they head off for their European adventure and we look forward to watching Levi’s progress over there throughout the coming EMX Championship.”

The Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championship takes a two week break now before the Pukekohe Motorcycle Club-hosted penultimate round on Saturday March 8. The final event is a week later, back at the Rotorua Motocross Track on Saturday March 15.

NZMX CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND TWO) RESULTS:

MX125

1st Levi Townley (YZ125) – 68

2nd Hayden Draper – 65

3rd Delton Manson – 62

4th Jack Ellingham (YZ125) – 60

MX1

1st Maximus Purvis (YZ450) – 72

2nd Hamish Harwood – 65

3rd Josiah Natzke – 62

MX2

1st Madoc Dixon – 67

2nd Cobie Bourke – 63

3rd Souya Nakajima (YZ250F) – 54

5th James Scott (YZ250F) – 47

10th Junya Tanaka (YZ250F) – 29

14th Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 23

Women’s 

1st Taylah McCutcheon – 72

2nd Karaitiana Horne – 69

3rd Mikayla Griffiths – 58

5th Amie Roberts – 56

MX3 

1st Travis Taylor – 75

2nd Mitchel Gleeson – 58

3rd Mokey Vining – 58

NZMX CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND ONE & TWO) RESULTS:

MX125

1st Levi Townley (YZ125) – 143

2nd Hayden Draper – 131

3rd Jack Ellingham (YZ125) – 110

MX1

1st Maximus Purvis (YZ450) – 147

2nd Josiah Natzke – 128

3rd Hamish Harwood – 123

MX2

1st Madoc Dixon – 132

2nd Cobie Bourke – 121

3rd James Scott (YZ250F) – 112

8th Souya Nakajima (YZ250F) – 77

11th Junya Tanaka (YZ250F) – 57

16th Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 30

Women’s 

1st Taylah McCutcheon – 147

2nd Karaitiana Horne – 135

3rd Mikayla Griffiths  (YZ250F) – 116

5th Amie Roberts  (YZ250F) – 102

MX3 

1st Travis Taylor – 150

2nd Seaton Head – 117

3rd Mitchel Gleeson – 112

2024/25 ALTHERM JCR YAMAHA CONTRACTED RACING CALENDAR

26th & 27th October 2024 – MX Fest (Taupo)

28th & 29th December 2024 – Summercross (Whakatane)
25th & 26th January 2025 – Woodville GP (Woodville)
15th February 2025 – R1 NZMX Nationals (Tauranga)

22nd February 2025 – R2 NZMX Nationals (Rotorua)

8th March 2025 – R3 NZMX Nationals (Pukekohe)

15th March 2025 – R4 NZMX Nationals (Rotorua)

2024/25 Altherm JCR Yamaha Activations Calendar:

18th to 20th October 2024 – bLUcRU Kids Camp (Rotorua)

22nd to 24th November 2024 – bLUcRU Kids Camp (Waikato)

8th December 2024 – Yamaha Women’s Off-Road Ride Day (Rotorua)

17th to 19th January 2025 – bLUcRU Kids Camp (Hauturu, Waikato)

31st January to 2nd February 2025 – bLUcRU Kids Camp (Waimumu, Southland)

21st to 23rd March 2025  – bLUcRU Kids Camp (Rainbow Mountain, Rotorua)