As far as season-opening events pan out, the Huka Honda MX Fest 2025 could not have gone any better for the new-look Altherm JCR Yamaha motocross team over the weekend.
New Zealand’s reigning MX1 champion, Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis returned from injury in fine form, winning all three of the top-level races at Taupo’s Digger McEwen MX Park yesterday.He backed up his MX1 MX Fest trophy victory with a first place in the top 40 shootout on his Yamaha YZ450.
Purvis says it was a good start to the season.
“I’m happy with how I rode and my bike was perfect. I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”
Joining him in the Altherm JCR Yamaha squad this season is talented young Karaka rider Hayden Draper, who immediately demonstrated he will be a force to be reckoned with in the MX2 class. A 1-1-1 scoresheet on Sunday on his Yamaha YZ250F was the icing on the cake of a successful weekend, which began with him winning the dirt sprints on Saturday night.
“On Sunday I started the day good with P1 in qualifying and then went on to win all three motos in MX2, which I was stoked about.
Draper also finished third in the shootout race and was riding the last 250cc motorbike standing.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better day. A massive thanks to Josh, my mechanic Nabe and the Althem JCR Yamaha team - I couldn’t have done it without them,” Draper says.
The on-form 16-year-old is fresh off a runner-up result in the 128-150cc 2T & 200-250cc 4T 15yrs class at the 2025 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship.
Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager Josh Coppins says the top results from the first weekend of racing bode well for the season ahead.
“Both riders had exceptional weekends and rode really well. I feel like we are in a really good place and nailed it. Three weeks out from the first round of nationals and I couldn’t be happier.”
Adding to Coppins’ happiness, was watching his son Nixon win the 12-16 years 85cc/150cc class on Saturday.
“We will put in some hard training yards now ahead of the first Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motocross Championship round in Invercargill next month. We look forward to welcoming James Scott back to the Altherm JCR Yamaha team at this event. His knee injury has healed up and he will be riding in the MX2 championship on a Yamaha YZ250.
MX FEST RESULTS:
MX1
1st Maximus Purvis (YZ450) – 100
2nd Josiah Natzke – 88
3rd Jack Treloar – 66
MX2
1st Hayden Draper (YZ250F) – 95
2nd Alexander Brown – 70
3rd Rian King – 68
4th Cody Griffiths (YZ250F) – 62
6th Wills Harvey (YZ250F) – 34
MX125
1st Ethan Carleton – 73
2nd Phoenix van Dusschoten – 72
3rd Cooper Young – 56
Words by Catherin Pattison