The New Zealand Motocross Championship is the premier domestic Motocross series in New Zealand, sanctioned by Motorcycling New Zealand.
The series runs annually throughout late winter and spring each year. The premier classes are MX1 and MX2 but there are also classes for younger riders, masters and women.
Prior to 1973, the series was known as the New Zealand Scrambles Championship.
History Motocross races first occurred in New Zealand during the 1940s and were known as Scrambles. These races were first collected into a championship in 1951, under the moniker of the New Zealand Scrambles Championship. This existed until 1973, when the series was renamed the New Zealand Motocross Championship. Several riders who have had considerable international success have raced in and won the championship on a number of occasions, including Shayne King, Darryl King, Josh Coppins and Ben Townley. The classes within the championship have evolved over time in line with what has been seen in the sport around the world.
Event Format Rounds of the New Zealand Motocross Championship typically have a one-day format. Each class has both a short free practice session and a longer qualifying practice session, followed by three main points paying races that contribute to the final overall standings per round.
Points are awarded to finishers of the main races, in the following format:
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th Points 25 22 20 18 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
List of Champions
Season MX1 Champion MX2 Champion2026 Maximus Purvis Hayden Draper2025 Maximus Purvis Madoc Dixon2024 Hamish Harwood James Scott2023 Maximus Purvis Cody Cooper 2022 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2021 Hamish Harwood Maximus Purvis2020 Kirk Gibbs Maximus Purvis2019 Cody Cooper Hamish Harwood2018 Kirk Gibbs Hamish Harwood2017 Cody Cooper Hamish Harwood2016 Cody Cooper Hamish Harwood2015 Cody Cooper Jay Wilson2014 Cody Cooper Kayne Lamont2013 Cody Cooper Scott Columb2012 Ben Townley Darryl King2011 Cody Cooper Darryl King 2010 No Championship2009 Justin McDonald Michael Phillips2008 Damien King Daryl Hurley 250cc Champion 125cc Champion 500cc Champion2007 Michael Phillips Damien King Daryl Hurley2006 Darryl King Damien King Darryl King2005 Shayne King Cody Cooper Shayne King2004 Shayne King Daryl Hurley Shayne King2003 Shayne King Cody Cooper Shayne King2002 Darryl King Daryl Hurley Darryl King2001 Darryl King Daryl Hurley Corrie Sargent2000 Mike Cotter Andrew Hardisty Corrie Sargent1999 Mike Cotter Daryl Hurley Mike Cotter1998 Josh Coppins Josh Coppins Mitch Rowe1997 Shayne King Brad Thomas Shayne King1996 Darryl King Damien King -1995 Andrew Hardisty Darryl King -1994 Shayne King Shayne King -1993 Shayne King Shayne King -1992 Shayne King Darryl Atkins -1991 Darryl King Darryl King -1990 Shayne King ? -1989 Shayne King L. Andrew -1988 Darryl King Darryl Atkins - 250cc Champion 125cc Champion Open Champion1987 Graeme Allan Shayne King Greg Hanson1986 Craig Dack Darryl King Graeme Allan1985 Perry Leask Greg Hanson Murray Anderson1984 Perry Leask Jonathan Wright Bryan Patterson1983 Murray Anderson Terry Meeks Jeff Leisk1982 Murray Anderson R. Saunders Frank White1981 Chris Maindonald Mitch Anderson Ivan Miller1980 Craig Coleman Gary Goodfellow Mitch Anderson Ivan Miller1979 Peter Ploen Terry Meeks Greg Brinck1978 Greg Brinck Terry Meeks Ivan Miller A Grade Champion 125cc Champion1977 Ivan Miller Phil Turnbull -1976 Paul Harrison - -1975 Peter Ploen John Gibbons -1974 Peter Ploen Roddy Shirriffs -1973 Peter Ploen - -
References