The Altherm JCR Yamaha motocross team had as much reason to celebrate as the host Taupo Motorcycle Club, after topping the results at MX Fest at the weekend.
While the event marked 50 years since the club’s inception and 40 years of running the annual season-opener, MX1 rider Maximus Purvis triumphantly returned from injury and youngster Levi Townley well-and-truly justified his 2024-2025 season inclusion in the Altherm JCR Yamaha squad.
Mangakino’s Purvis underwent knee surgery last year and MX Fest was his first major hit-out in New Zealand since his recuperation. He showed the enforced rest has done him no harm and dominated the top tier class with a clean sweep of the four MX1 races.
“Overall, I was pretty happy with my weekend. I’m starting to get back into the groove of things and can’t wait for the season ahead,” Purvis says.
His rivals won’t take any heart from his admission that he is not yet at his peak form on his Yamaha YZ450.
“I’m definitely not up to 100% fitness yet but I’m on track to get there and my knee is feeling back to normal,” Purvis says.
Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager Josh Coppins believes the long recovery has been beneficial for the team’s star performer.
“The break has brought Maximus back fresh, hungry and motivated. He did five senior seasons very successfully for us back-to-back and alternating between New Zealand and Australia,” he says.
“On Sunday, Max won all four, 10-minute sprint races in the MX1 class early in the day. Then he went into a shootout, where riders are allowed to use the joker lane once. It was for the top 36 of all riders from the 125cc, 250cc and 450cc classes, then whittles down to the top 20 then top 10, top 6 top 3 and eventually the winner.”
Purivs had the joker lane up his sleeve but used it early on in the top 6 down to top 3 shootout race. Australian Kirk Gibbs saved his joker lane and used it in the final outing to win the Nicky Smith Memorial trophy and Purvis finished runner-up.
Coppins says Purvis is on track for a strong season.
“He was fast and we’ve been working hard with him in terms of bike setup. It’s a long season ahead but we are certainly in the right place with Maximus.”
Oparau’s James Scott (MX2) was missing from Altherm JCR Yamaha line-up as he received a concussion four weeks ago and the team stood him down as a precautionary measure and to follow head injury protocols.
Coppins says Scott was released to ride the week leading up to the event “but we decided to let him sit it out and get 100% healthy. He will be getting back to riding this week and will raring to go at the Waikato Champs at the end of November.”
Tauranga’s Townley has been included in the Altherm JCR Yamaha team following his incredible 85cc Junior Motocross World Championships’ title achievement in July. The 14-year-old stepped up to a bigger capacity Yamaha machine (YZ125) on Saturday and made short work of his competition.
Townley’s dad Ben, who is a Yamaha ambassador and former international motocross and supercross star, says his son was consistent all day in the Junior 125cc class.
“Levi rode really well and won all of his races and the dirt sprints on Saturday. Results-wise it was a fantastic event for him but personally he was working on a few things we had focused on. He was able to make some gains, which was good for Josh and I to see that he was able to achieve them in his races.
Coppins says Townley was too young to race in the Senior MX 125 class on Sunday.
“We saw enough on Saturday to know that he is progressing well. I am working hard together with Ben and Levi’s mechanic Luke to help him progress. Levi is certainly on the right track and I am looking forward to seeing him jump into the Senior 125 class.”
Motorcycling New Zealand will allow 14-year-olds to race in the Senior MX 125cc class at the Woodville GP at the end of January and the four-round Yamaha New Zealand Motocross nationals early in 2025.
“It’s very cool to work with Levi and also his younger brother Jaggar. We have a really clear vision, expectation pathway and goals for Levi’s trajectory. He’s taking it with both hands and has such a wise, focused head on his shoulders. You can never be sure in this sport but I am very confident about his future,” Coppins says.
Jaggar Townley was racing his Yamaha YZ85 for the Altherm JCR Yamaha Development Team and with a 1-2-1 set of results was tied on points with Connor Feather going into the final race of the day. After a slow start, Jaggar clawed his way back through the pack to take the race victory and subsequently, the 12-16 years 85cc/150cc class win.
His fellow Yamaha development team mates included Jake Ellingham (Auckland), who had a podium result in the MX 125cc class with a runner-up finish, and Nelson’s Wills Harvey was seventh in the MX2 category.
Coppins says it was a busy weekend supporting the Altherm JCR Yamaha team riders, plus Yamaha customers and also bLUcRU riders under their dealerships.
“The next event for us will be the Waikato Championships on November 30 and we are looking forward to having James back on the team with Max for that,” he wraps up.