After giving himself and his team a nerve-wracking start to the day, Altherm JCR Yamaha’s MX1 master Maximus Purvis did what he does best and gave it everything for the win at the 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championship’s final round on Saturday.

The Rotorua MX Track was run in the reverse direction to when the Rotorua Motorcycle Club hosted the second round of the championship last month. It proved a hit with the riders, although it caught Purvis out early in the day.

After charging into the lead of the opening moto, he hit the dirt, crashing in a tricky corner rut in the opening laps, letting MX1 rivals Hamish Harwood and Josiah Natzke past. A determined charge saw Purvis gain back his front-of-pack position, only for a second crash to drop him back to third.

Some consultation with Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager Josh Coppins saw Purvis cruise through his second moto to third place again, in an attempt to preserve both his championship lead and the sore ribs he was still nursing.

The crowd at the Rotorua track may have expected to see more of the same sedate riding in the third and final moto, where Purvis only needed a fourth place to consolidate his second MX1 crown since gaining his first in 2023, but this was not the case.

To his assembled fans and supporters’ delight, Purvis did the opposite and charged out of the gates, taking the holeshot and roaring away from the entire field to an unchallenged victory.

Purvis’ game plan was simple. The supremely talented 24-year-old wanted to end his season on a high and that’s exactly what he did.

“I got a good start in that last one and stayed on the bike this time. Yeah, it definitely feels good to finish the season with a win. I’m going to head to Aussie this week and try to get [some wins] over there,” he said.

Commentator Neil Ritchie asked if he thought he could kick some Aussie butt and Purvis’ replied: “I’ll definitely have a go at it.”

He will be based in Australia from early this week, where he is contracted to ride four rounds of the Australian Motocross Championship for the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team.

Later at prizegiving, Purvis thanked the Altherm JCR Yamaha team, his meticulous mechanic Tamas Toth and his supporters. Surrounded by family, friends and his team, he enjoyed celebrating his huge achievement.

“It was great to wrap up the MX1 title with Maximus. It was well deserved, and it wasn’t as easy as it looked, with multiple injury challenges throughout his campaign,” Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Team Manager Josh Coppins said.

“As he so often does, Maximus steps up to the mark and delivers for us. We are very thankful for his efforts.”

Coppins adds that he appreciates that Purvis is a “unique character,” which shone through in the third and final moto.

“He didn’t need to win but he wasn’t happy with his performances of late due to the injury that he’s been carrying. He went out and dominated that final moto, which just goes to show his character.

“We can’t thank him enough and his family for all their efforts. We wish him all the best in Australia and hopefully he can show the Aussie riders what he’s capable of and it’s the start of an exciting new adventure for him.”

Altherm JCR Yamaha’s rider Maximus Purvis had a stunning final moto, taking the holeshot through to the race win and claiming his second MX1 title. Photo: CD Photography.

Coppins credited the Rotorua Motorcycle Club for doing double duties this season, hosting the second and then final round of the championship.

“The event itself went off really well. We’ve been fortunate this season to have had great weather and great tracks. Shout out has to go to MNZ and to Stu and Sonia for their efforts.

“Media improvement of the series has seen quite a few positives which is exciting, so thanks for their efforts too.”

The Altherm JCR Yamaha team have had a huge workload this season, including having Japanese guests with them from Yamaha Motor Corporation for the last eight weeks and competing in five races around the country.

They have managed the unfortunate knee injury for their MX2 rider James Scott after the second Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championship round.

“We wish James all the best for his knee surgery on Tuesday and hope he has a good recovery. Then we look forward to having him back on the team once he’s finished his rehabilitation,” Coppins said.

Talented youngster Levi Townley came into the team and dominated the MX125 races he was able to contest before leaving for the European EMX Championship halfway through the New Zealand series.

“The effort and workload that it took to put him in the very best position we could for Europe was immense from the whole crew. Needless to say, we are looking forward to a quick break and a regroup before we start to plan for the future.”

Now the senior motocross racing is over for the season, the focus shifts to the Altherm activations, with the final bLUcRU Kids Camp this weekend and then the Junior Nationals in Harrisville, Pukekohe, in April.

The New Zealand Motocross Championship will start up again at an earlier date next season, in November, with two back-to-back weekends at South Island venues, followed by two rounds in the North Island in February 2026.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us this season. We appreciate our riders, their sponsors, the media, and everyone who supports us and helps us to be where we are today,” Coppins said.

Altherm JCR Yamaha’s youngest international export Levi Townley had his first EMX race at the MXGP of Castilla la Mancha on Saturday night. Racing with the #26 on his bike, Townley got the holeshot and rode to 11th in some gnarly, muddy conditions.

In his second race Townley finished 18th after sitting in 6th for the majority of the race. He is in 15th overall after the first EMX round.

Watch the EMX125 Race 1 Highlights from Castilla la Mancha 2025, round 1 of the 2025 EMX250 Motocross European Championship.

NZMX CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND FOUR) RESULTS:

MX1

1st Hamish Harwood – 70

2nd Maximus Purvis (YZ450) – 65

3rd Josiah Natzke – 60

MX2

1st Cody Cooper – 65

2nd Flynn Watts – 62

3rd Hayden Smith – 60

7th Junya Tanaka (YZ250F) – 37

11th Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 34

*Souya Nakajima (YZ250F) – DNS (did not start)

MX125

1st Jack Ellingham (YZ125) – 75

2nd Hayden Draper – 64

3rd Delton Manson – 62

Under 19

1st Flynn Watts (YZ250F) – 75

2nd Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 60

3rd Cody Griffiths (YZ250F) – 60

4th Nixon Parkes (YZ250F) – 56

Women’s

1st Karaitiana Horne – 72

2nd Mikayla Griffiths (YZ250F) – 67

3rd Amie Roberts (YZ250F) – 62

MX3

1st Travis Taylor – 75

2nd Mitchel Gleeson – 60

3rd Mokey Vining – 53

NZMX CHAMPIONSHIP OVERALL RESULTS:

MX1

1st Maximus Purvis (YZ450) – 275

2nd Hamish Harwood – 260

3rd Josiah Natzke – 257

MX2

1st Madoc Dixon – 235

2nd Cobie Bourke – 226

3rd Hayden Smith – 207

4th Flynn Watts (YZ250F) – 199

8th Junya Tanaka (YZ250F) – 129

9th James Scott (YZ250F) – 112 *James missed rounds three and four

13th Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 98

14th Souya Nakajima (YZ250F) – 96 *Souya missed round four

15th Cody Griffiths (YZ250F) – 83

16th Nixon Parkes (YZ250F) – 69

20th Carlin Hedley (YZ250F) – 42

26th Tyler Cooksley (YZ250F) – 17

28th James Rountree (YZ250F) – 3

MX125

1st Hayden Draper – 270

2nd Jack Ellingham (YZ125) – 249

3rd Delton Manson – 220

4th Ben Costello (YZ125) – 161

5th Levi Townley (YZ125) – 143 *Levi missed rounds three and four

Under 19

1st Flynn Watts (YZ250F) – 272

2nd Hayden Draper – 225

3rd Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 223

4th Cody Griffiths (YZ250F) – 220

5th Nixon Parkes (YZ250F) – 192

Women’s

1st Karaitiana Horne – 282

2nd Mikayla Griffiths (YZ250F) – 236

3rd Amie Roberts (YZ250F) – 222

MX3

1st Travis Taylor – 297

2nd Mitchel Gleeson – 230

3rd Brandon Hoskins – 174

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)