Across the country, motocross riders are chomping at the bit to pit themselves against the cream of the nation when the 2027 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships descend on South Waikato’s Amisfield Motocross Park on Saturday (November 14, 2026).

Story and Image Derek Morrison

Defending MX1 champ raring to go

Maximus Purvis has the biggest target on his back, and the Mangakino masterclass rider is just fine with that. Despite spring being a busy time of year for his family earthmoving business, his dad has taken on some more hours operating the heavy machinery. That allows Purvis to do what he does best – ride his Yamaha YZ450 hard in preparation to defend his MX1 crown with his Monster Energy JCR Yamaha team behind him.

He dominated the MX Fest motos a month ago, and the bad news for his rivals is that Purvis is even better prepared for this weekend’s racing.

“I’m feeling good and have been getting a bit more riding in now. More than before,” Purvis smiles.

Fresh wheels for Natzke

A “new weapon” is how 2026 MX1 Championship runner-up Josiah Natzke describes his fresh-off-the-factory-floor 2027 Honda CRF450R. The Hamilton-based Honda Motul Racing Team’s MX1 racer has been putting in the hours on it – preparing to turn his goals for the season into reality this Saturday.

“Ultimately, my goal is to win the championship,” Natzke admits.

Natzke is no stranger to holding the victor’s silverware and first wrote his name in the Kiwi motocross history books in 2014 when, aged only 15 years old, he became New Zealand's youngest ever senior motocross champion when he clinched the Senior 125cc title for the first time. Fast forward 13 years, and after finishing third in MX1 in 2025 and runner-up in 2026, Natzke is intent on going one better this season. Standing in his way of taking the top-tier title in 2027 will be the ever-looming presence of three-time MX1 champ Maximus Purvis.

“Unfortunately for me, he is solid, so he pushes me to be better,” Natzke shares.

A flying Phoenix

After winning the 2026 MX125 Championship by a convincing 26-point margin, Phoenix Van Dusschoten, of Levin, has switched brands from his GasGas 125cc machine and upgraded bike classes. He will take on the 2027 MX2 Championship riding a 250F for LMC Husqvarna.

Now living in Auckland, Van Dusschoten wasn’t even planning to head to Taupo’s MX Fest last month, but was pleased he did, after coming away with the MX2 class win in what is considered the big shake-down event leading into the New Zealand Motocross Championships.

If his strong showing there is anything to go by, the bigger capacity bike suits his skill set and he will be a threat to his fellow MX2 frontrunners, who include Oparau’s James Scott, Jack Ellingham, of Auckland, Cambridge rider Jared Hannon and Southlander Jack Treloar.

With last season’s MX2 title winner Karaka’s Hayden Draper missing this first 2027 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships round due to a clash with supercross duties in Australia, the MX2 class looks set to provide some close, fierce battles across the three motos.

“You can’t get caught lacking anywhere,” Van Dusschoten explains of the MX2 category’s intensity.

MX125cc ripper

Aged 17, Tauranga’s Ethan Carleton is going into his second year of Senior national motocross competition, and after finishing off the podium in the MX125cc class in 2026, he showed he is a force to be reckoned with in Taupo last month.

Carleton topped the 125cc 2 Stroke class at MX Fest and, like several other riders mentioned above, he has also been kitted out with a new set of wheels and will be on board a Husqvarna TC125 for 2027.

Carleton has been putting in hours of preparation, with weights and cardio intermixed with riding his motocross bike, as he worked hard towards the four-round New Zealand Championship’s first round. He shares the sentiments all racers must be feeling this week – wanting to turn months of training into racing action.

“I’m looking forward to it and just want to get out there!” offers Carleton.

Last year’s runner-up Carson Carroll, of Waipukurau, will be another hoping to get his mitts on the MX125 silverware.

Leading lady

Raetihi's Karaitiana Horne has been testing herself across The Ditch this year, racing against strong Australian competition and clocking top 10 finishes.

“The girls over there are way faster,” she acknowledges.

Arguably the hottest talent to follow on the heels of four-time Women’s World Motocross Champion Courtney Duncan, Horne won an Australian junior title in 2024, and by the following year she had amassed four Junior New Zealand titles and had just won her second senior New Zealand championship. After winning the 2026 WMX title, she now has three to her name.

Horne is mixing it up this season and will “double class” – racing the MX2 men, along with defending her Women’s class title. It will be the first time she has raced two classes at senior level and has been “working out and going riding” at every opportunity to attain the high level of fitness required to smash out six, energy-taxing 20-minute motos in a day.

Head along to watch these riders and their rivals battle hard on the thrilling Amisfield MX Track at 35 Moffat Road in Tokoroa. This iconic spectator-friendly track is renowned for its big jumps, fast sections, and rough patches that will test fitness and skill levels.

Racing will be contested across five divisions at each round: The premier MX1 (450cc machines) class, MX2 (250cc machines), WMX women’s class, MX125 (125cc machines) development class and the MX3 support class.

Catherine Pattison for MNZ

Lead MX1 riders Honda Motul Racing’s Josiah Natzke #30 and Monster Energy JCR Yamaha’s Maximus Purvis are the two to beat in the premier division. Reigning champion Purvis holds the upper hand going into Tokoroa’s iconic Amisfield MX Track for the opening round of the 2027 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships on November 14, 2026, having won all three motos at the pre-season Huka Honda Fest held in Taupo a month ago.

2027 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships

Round 1 - 14th November 2026 Amisfield, South Waikato

Round 2 - 28th November 2026 Patetonga, Waikato

Round 3 - 20th February 2027 Rockworkz, Taranaki

Round 4 - 27th February 2027 Horohoro Bluffs, Rotorua

Amisfield Motocross Park

53 Moffat Road, Tokoroa

Gates open: 8am

Adults: $20

Child/Student (5-18 years): $10

Family: $40

Kids under 5: Free