The PWR Yamaha team is celebrating after scoring wins all round at the opening national cross country races this week.

Hot on the heels of the 2023 series, the 2024 Yamaha-sponsored New Zealand Cross Country Championships began this weekend, with the PWR Yamaha riders picking up podium spots across a variety of classes.

Last season’s championships wrapped up in December 2023 and the competitors were back at it for the Marlborough Motorcycle Club-hosted rounds one and two - held two days apart - at St Arnaud, near Nelson, on Friday and Sunday.

Round two was held at the same venue, with track layout changes keeping it fresh for the riders.

Taupo-based PWR Yamaha rider Wil Yeoman won the senior title last year and was the hot favourite going into this weekend. The talented 18-year-old began his 2024 campaign with a carefully executed win.

“After a good start I settled into second, navigating the creek crossings and bush sections. The YZ250X was solid over the 40-minute laps and I eventually capitalized on the pressure and moved into first,” says Wil.

PWR Yamaha Academy rider Sheldon Brown of Eketahuna rode his Yamaha YZ250FX to second place overall in the Junior New Zealand Cross Country Championships after the opening two rounds.Photo: Geoff Guthrie.

In the second round, two days later, he didn’t have the best start but managed to claw his way back to third after the first lap. Chasing hard through the bush tracks and dry, fast, open farmland, he closed the gap to first with two laps to go but found it difficult to pass.

“In the end I won the XC2 class and placed second overall. Cheers to everyone involved for a great weekend of racing,” says Wil.

PWR rider Luke Brown, of Eketahuna, had a positive first round, finishing third overall and second in the XC1 class on his higher capacity YZ450FX.

However, misfortune struck in the second round.

“In round two I grabbed the holeshot and was riding a good race until I got a flat tyre. I limped it back to the pits and got it sorted. Then I put on a hard charge and finished up 6th overall and 2nd in XC1,” says Luke.

Leading female rider, PWR Yamaha’s Charlotte Russ, who hails from Auckland, continued the fine form that won her the womens’ class last year, with the first two rounds of 2024’s national series panning out well for her.

“The first round on Friday was challenging for me getting used to the rocky terrain, where I learned a lot throughout the day,” says Charlotte.

Following her first round win on Friday, Sunday’s race saw the track run in reverse with a few extra changes.

“In the second round, I got off to an ok start but got caught up in traffic at the first hill which put me behind.

"After that I managed to have a good race and felt a lot more comfortable with the track. I was happy to get 1st in the women's class both days and I am looking forward to the last two rounds at Easter,” she says.

PWR Team Manager Paul Whibley, who doubles as the Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner, says the team performed really well with all riders achieving great results.

“It was a tough couple of days of racing and they were held on very rocky terrain. At the second round, the track got rough and dusty," says  Paul.

"As it cut up more, rocks became exposed and a lot of riders got flat tyres. Both Luke and his brother Sheldon, suffered flats at R2.

“Sheldon holds second overall in the Juniors but was obviously disappointed to lose a sure win with a flat tyre on the last lap. His fellow PWR Yamaha Academy team mates, brothers Harvey and Max Williams, shared wins in the 125 class.

"I’m really happy with the start to the season and am looking forward to a strong finish at the final two rounds over Easter weekend,” says Paul.

PWR Yamaha team rider Luke Brown currently sits in second place in the XC1 class on his YamahaYZ450FX. Photo: Geoff Guthrie.

Yamaha YZ250F rider Nixon Parkes had an impressive weekend in the Junior category, winning overall yesterday.

He sits just below Sheldon Brown in third overall and in the same position in the 4 Stroke Over class after the two rounds.

Paul explained that the different format for the cross country nationals this 2024 season, where two rounds/races were separated by only a day, helped to reduce travel costs for the competitors.

It means they only have to make one trip to the South Island and one trip to the North Island to contest the full series. The day in between races gives riders time to recover and prepare their bikes.

“We know it’s expensive to travel across on the Interisland ferry, so, with reducing the number of crossings, we really hope more riders will complete the full series,” says Paul.

Yamaha Motor New Zealand Motorsport Manager Josh Coppins attended the second cross country race on Sunday.

“It was great to get to a cross country round and see Yamaha do so well across all classes. I enjoyed seeing the PWR Yamaha team representing the brand and the track looked so appealing, I wouldn’t have minded riding it myself!” says Josh.

He thanked Paul for his efforts with the PWR Yamaha team and looks forward to seeing how the final two rounds pan out on Saturday, March 30 in Central Hawke’s Bay, followed by the fourth and final round on Monday, April 1 - Easter Monday - at Tinui, near Masterton.

2024 YAMAHA NZ CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE RESULTS:
Senior

1st Wil Yeoman (YZ250X) – 1st in class, XC2

2nd Callum Dudson

3rd Luke Brown (YZ450FX) – 2nd in class, XC1

29th Charlotte Russ (YZ250FX) – 1st in class, Senior - Women

Junior

1st Blake Affleck

2nd Sheldon Brown (YZ250FX) – 2nd in class, 4 Stroke Over

3rd Max Williams (YZ125) – 1st in class, 2 Stroke Over

6th Harvey Williams (YZ125) – 2nd in class, 2 Stroke Over

7th Nixon Parkes (YZ250F) – 5th in class, 4 Stroke Over

2024 YAMAHA NZ CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO RESULTS:

Senior

1st Callum Dudson

2nd Wil Yeoman (YZ250X) – 1st in class, XC2

3rd Ryan Hayward

6th Luke Brown (YZ450FX) – 2nd in class, XC1

32nd Charlotte Russ (YZ250FX) – 1st in class, Senior - Women

Junior

1st Nixon Parkes (YZ250F) – 1st in class, 4 Stroke Over

2nd Blake Affleck

3rd Sheldon Brown (YZ250FX) – 3rd in class, 4 Stroke Over

4th Max Williams (YZ125) – 4th in class, 4 Stroke Over

6th Harvey Williams (YZ125) – 1st in class, 2 Stroke Over

2024 YAMAHA NZ CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP OVERALL RESULTS (R1 & R2):

Senior

1st Callum Dudson

2nd Wil Yeoman (YZ250X) – 1st in class, XC2

3rd Ryan Hayward

4th Luke Brown (YZ450FX) – 2nd in class, XC1

33rd Charlotte Russ (YZ250FX) – 1st in class, Senior - Women

Junior

1st Blake Affleck

2nd Sheldon Brown (YZ250FX) – 2nd in class, 4 Stroke Over

3rd Nixon Parkes (YZ250F) – 3rd in class, 4 Stroke Over

10th Max Williams (YZ125) – 1st in class, 2 Stroke Over, 5th in class, 2 Stroke Over

6th Harvey Williams (YZ125) – 1st in class, 2 Stroke Over

2024 New Zealand Cross-country Championships calendar:

Round one, Friday, February 9, St Arnaud, near Nelson.

Round two, Sunday, February 11, St Arnaud, near Nelson.

Round three, Saturday, March 30, Central Hawke’s Bay.

Round four, Monday, April 1 (Easter Monday), Bush Riders Club, at Tinui, near Masterton.