New Zealand Motocross Championship
# New Zealand Motocross Championship

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 Champion |
| - | - | - |
| 2023 | Maximus Purvis | Cody Cooper |
| 2022 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Hamish Harwood | Maximus Purvis |
| 2020 | Kirk Gibbs | Maximus Purvis |
| 2019 | Cody Cooper | Hamish Harwood |
| 2018 | Kirk Gibbs | Hamish Harwood |
| 2017 | Cody Cooper | Hamish Harwood |
| 2016 | Cody Cooper | Hamish Harwood |
| 2015 | Cody Cooper | Jay Wilson |
| 2014 | Cody Cooper | Kayne Lamont |
| 2013 | Cody Cooper | Scott Columb |
| 2012 | Ben Townley | Darryl King |
| 2011 | Cody Cooper | Darryl King |
| 2010 | No Championship | No Championship |
| 2009 | Justin McDonald | Michael Phillips |
| 2008 | Damien King | Daryl Hurley |
| | 250cc Champion | 125cc Champion | 500cc Champion |
| 2007 | Michael Phillips | Damien King | Daryl Hurley |
| 2006 | Darryl King | Damien King | Darryl King |
| 2005 | Shayne King | Cody Cooper | Shayne King |
| 2004 | Shayne King | Daryl Hurley | Shayne King |
| 2003 | Shayne King | Cody Cooper | Shayne King |
| 2002 | Darryl King | Daryl Hurley | Darryl King |
| 2001 | Darryl King | Daryl Hurley | Corrie Sargent |
| 2000 | Mike Cotter | Andrew Hardisty | Corrie Sargent |
| 1999 | Mike Cotter | Daryl Hurley | Mike Cotter |
| 1998 | Josh Coppins | Josh Coppins | Mitch Rowe |
| 1997 | Shayne King | Brad Thomas | Shayne King |
| 1996 | 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 Champion |
| 1987 | Graeme Allan | Shayne King | Greg Hanson |
| 1986 | Craig Dack | Darryl King | Graeme Allan |
| 1985 | Perry Leask | Greg Hanson | Murray Anderson |
| 1984 | Perry Leask | Jonathan Wright | Bryan Patterson |
| 1983 | Murray Anderson | Terry Meeks | Jeff Leisk |
| 1982 | Murray Anderson | R. Saunders | Frank White |
| 1981 | Chris Maindonald | Mitch Anderson | Ivan Miller |
| 1980 | Craig Coleman Gary Goodfellow | Mitch Anderson | Ivan Miller |
| 1979 | Peter Ploen | Terry Meeks | Greg Brinck |
| 1978 | Greg Brinck | Terry Meeks | Ivan Miller |
| | A Grade Champion | 125cc Champion | |
| 1977 | Ivan Miller | Phil Turnbull | - |
| 1976 | Paul Harrison | - | - |
| 1975 | Peter Ploen | John Gibbons | - |
| 1974 | Peter Ploen | Roddy Shirriffs | - |
| 1973 | Peter Ploen | - | - |
