New Zealand Supercross Championships to hosting Australia’s SuperX Rounds – break-down of events from 2008 > 2018. On the back of NZ’s Cole Davies winning AMA 250SX East Championship in Philadelphia weekend before last, questions abound on how the kiwi claimed the monumental victory given NZ has limited SX tracks to train on along with mixed years of hosting Australia’s SuperX Rounds.
From MXLink’s first Media coverage of NZ Supercross Championship in 2008 – Rounds 1 – 4 in Motueka, Tokoroa, Auckland, and Wanganui – there has been no shortage of passion from rider’s to develop skills and race SX on kiwi soil – rather a shortage of financial backing to build and maintain SX tracks along with running SX Nationals year-on-year. As FIM MX1 Vice Champion – Josh Coppins – stated in an interview with RacerX in 2006 – ‘”I’m riding a lot of supercross on my 250F, I do one moto in MX then ride SX for the rest of the afternoon. I like it, it’s different, fun, and also good for your technique”‘.
The same year, NZ’s Daryl Hurley – who wrapped up the Pro Open Supercross Championship stated: ‘”These are the sort of events we must produce to bring the sport to wider attention, in front of bigger crowds, and to sharpen up our younger rider’s. It was being able to race supercross that earned me my Factory ride slot in Australia”‘.
In July 2008 – Pukekohe Motorcycle Club – home track of MXLink and Davies – hosted The Demon Energy Supercross and Gravity Games at Vector Arena – now re-named Spark Arena. With 100 tonnes of dirt trucked into Auckland’s down-town venue, the tight track produced competitive racing with XGames rider’s mixing up the evening entertainment with tricks enthralling the crowd.
By 2009, NZ hosted the Monster Energy Australasian SuperX Championship Rounds at Hamilton stadium, followed Rounds at North Harbour and Dunedin the following year. America’s Jason Baker from Dream Traxx built the tracks for the Series and MXLink captured his thoughts on what was involved from start to finish. SC: How has the Series gone so far? JB: ‘”The Series has gone pretty well, I’m happy where we are at. I’ve had more dirt this year and have been able to build some sweet tracks, running around 40 seconds per lap. That was a big thing from last year, to get the lap times up. I’ve had positive feedback from the rider’s on the new tracks, the different jumps, different rhythms – trying to help the flow of the track and help the rider’s really enjoy it. We’ve had some rain that we’ve had to deal with and work around but in the end we’ve put in some long hours and it’s nice to sit back and see what we’ve accomplished”‘.
There definitely was a long hiatus before Australia’s SuperX hit NZ again – not until 2018 when Mt Smart stadium hosted the Opening Round of Monster Energy S-X Open International FIM Oceania Supercross. Rider’s from America, Australia, and NZ treated the crowd to an epic battle of racing with SX1 leader – Justin Brayton – claiming victory of the night. MXLink’s report can be found here: https://mxlink.co.nz/australian-superx-championship-round-4-hits-auckland-this-weekend-all-out-action-entertainment-and-fun-for-all/
For now, word on the ground says there may be – a hint that – FIM World Supercross Championship 2026 – could hold a Round in NZ. That would be quite a turn-around for re-booting SX on kiwi soil – much needed and sorely missed given the latest achievement of Cole Davies winning AMA 250SX East Championship in 2026.
Monster Energy S-X Open at Mt Smart in 2018. Film: MXLink.
Header photo: Australasian SuperX at Hamilton, NZ in 2009. Image MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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