Queenstown's Scott Columb is back racing - on a different bike brand - and plans to build his race fitness up tonight at the New Zealand Supercross Championships in Winton.
Columb is now riding a Kawasaki KX450F for Whyteline Kawasaki after separating from Yamaha and team manager Josh Coppins last year.
After nine months off following last year's motocross nationals, Columb was fourth at last weekend's Otago Motocross Championships and was looking forward to the three short, sharp supercross races.
''I really enjoy racing supercross and the thing is, I need race time at the moment,'' Columb, who was the 2012 national supercross champion, said.
Headlining his MX1 class will be former motocross world championship Grand Prix racer and many-time former New Zealand champion Coppins (Yamaha), of Motueka, along with 2013 national supercross champion and national MX1 motocross champion Cody Cooper (Honda CRF450), of Mount Maunganui.
Dunedin's Campbell King (Suzuki RM-Z450) is upping his game by riding in the MX1 class through until the motocross nationals start in February. Then he will switch back to the MX2 class, ''just to make it a bit easier to jump back to the 250. Hopefully I'll be able to ride it a bit harder''. King had a successful start to his season, finishing third in the MX1 class at the Otago Motocross Championships.
In comparison, supercross was ''a lot more high intensity'', he said.
The races are shorter but the track is punctuated by jumps, berms and whoops (a series of close-together bumps).
Australian riders also arrive in force with Brisbane men Nick Sullivan (Honda CRF450) and Sam Duncanson (Honda CRF450) challenging the Kiwis in this top category.
In the 250cc MX2 class, Australian Geran Stapleton (Honda CRF250) will receive some stiff competition from Hamilton-based Kiwi international Josiah Natzke (KTM250 SX-F).
Hot off his motocross win in the 12-16 years 125cc class at the regional championships, Grason Veitch (13) will be riding against boys up to three years older and on 250cc motorbikes today. His father, Deane, said it was a good chance for Grason to measure himself against them on his 125cc bike in this ''no room for error and no time for a rest'' style of racing.
The Southland Motorcycle Club will host the event at the supercross track at 243 Ryan Rd, Winton from 5pm.
