Altherm JCR Yamaha Clean Sweeps Event

Altherm JCR Yamaha Clean Sweeps Event

FEBRUARY 3, 2014: There was room for nobody else but Altherm JCR Yamaha riders on the top step of the podium at the big annual Gold Nuggets Motocross on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island at the weekend.

National MX2 champion Scott Columb, of Queenstown, was unbeatable in the MX2 class, winning five races from five starts, while his MX1 team-mate Billy MacKenzie went one better, winning five out of five MX1 races and also winning the all-capacities feature race as well.

Columb (Yamaha YZ250) finished runner-up to Scottish rider MacKenzie (Yamaha YZ450F) in the feature race, ensuring the team the most perfect score they could have achieved and giving themselves an ideal build-up to the opening round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships near Timaru this coming weekend.

The two-day event was hosted by the Westland Motorcycle Club at Waipuna Station, Ikamatua, between Greymouth and Westport, and was an ideal warm-up for Columb and MacKenzie as they now head to Timaru for the start of the four-round national series.

“This was a completely different race for us after Woodville,” said team manager Josh Coppins, of Motueka, referring to the disastrous weekend they endured at the New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville a week earlier.

Columb had crashed heavily in the day’s opening race at Woodville, bravely fighting back through the pack to finish 16th, and, although he won the final MX2 race of the weekend, he had to settle for an unaccustomed fifth overall that day.

“The Gold Nuggets event was ideal in terms of getting Scott back feeling comfortable again after the difficult day we had at Woodville,” said Coppins.

“We dominated, perhaps as expected, even though Billy was really only on his second ride of the season. He has not raced since about August, but now he’s looking good.

“There were more than 300 riders at the Gold Nuggets Motocross and it was good to wave the flag there for Yamaha.”

MacKenzie, Columb and 125cc class rider Logan Blackburn, of Te Puke, will be among the favourites to win at the Pleasant Point circuit, near Timaru, this Saturday, especially if the Altherm JCR Yamaha Race Team can keep this winning momentum going.

The Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team is supported by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, CRC, Fox, Holland’s Collision Centre, Star Moving, GYTR, Yamalube, Pro Circuit, Alpinestars, Matrix, DID, NGK, Renthal, Pirelli, Etnies, Workshop Graphics, POD, Atlas, Motomuck, Uni, Giltrap Prestige, Hinson, Racetech Plastics, Vertex Pistons and SKF.

Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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