Natzke Stamps His Authority

Natzke Stamps His Authority

FEBRUARY 23, 2015: Defending national 125cc motocross champion Josiah Natzke was clearly the fastest rider at the opening round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships two weeks ago, but bad luck meant he was forced to accept runner-up spot for the day.

With 'Lady Luck' nowhere in sight at round two near Timaru on Sunday, Natzke's undoubted talent was free to shine and a stunning hat-trick of wins propelled the CMR Red Bull KTM rider back to where most feel he probably belongs, to the top of the class.

Waikato's Natzke overturned the four-point deficit he endured after round one and is now on top and 11 points clear of his nearest rival, Taupo's Cohen Chase, with the four-round JT Racing-sponsored series now at the halfway stage.

Still third overall is new CMR Red Bull KTM Team signing Ben Broad, of Ngatea. Broad finished 4-3-4 on Sunday and he is just nine points adrift of Chase.

"It was very wet and slippery during practice, but the track got better as the day wore on," said Natzke.

"It's the best day's riding I've had in a while. I grabbed three holeshots and three race wins. I won one of those races by about 30 seconds I think."

In fact, Natzke won the first race by 57 seconds from Otago's Courtney Duncan, the second race by 44 seconds from Chase and was 20 seconds in front of runner-up Chase at the end of race three, so total was his dominance of the class on Sunday.

Natzke is working hard over the summer as he builds up his strength, speed and stamina for his upcoming European motocross campaign.

The teenager heads to Belgium immediately after the fourth and final round of the nationals, set for Pukekohe on March 15.

He will race for the KTM factory in the EMX 125 European Championships, the eight-round competition beginning at Trentino, Arco di Trento in Italy on April 19and concluding on August 30 in Assen, in the Netherlands, at the end of August.

Meanwhile, in the MX2 (250cc) class in Timaru on Sunday, CMR Red Bull KTM Team rider Hamish Harwood, from Takaka, surged up from third to second in the championship standings.

Australian visitor Jay Wilson continues to lead the class and a hat-trick of wins from him on Sunday certainly strengthened his claim for the title, but Harwood, who finished No.2 in the MX2 class in Australia last season, is showing himself to be a threat.

Harwood finished 3-2-3 on Sunday to end the day overall runner-up and he is now 20 points behind Wilson with two rounds remaining.

Mount Maunganui's Cody Cooper went on the attack in the MX1 class, winning three races from three starts to leap three spots from fourth overall after round one to now lead the class by three points from Rotorua's John Phillips, with Australian KTM rider Kirk Gibbs third overall, just seven points further back.

Round three is set for Rotorua on March 8, with the fourth and final round at Pukekohe on March 15.

by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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