“ I ’ d done all the hard work before we got to Taupo really . I was just managing it from there , taking it race by race ,” said Harwood . “ The goal here at Taupo was just to get three good starts and finish the races . That ’ s all I really needed to do , although there was a scary moment in that first race when I got taken down . I was lucky to finish that race . “ I wasn ’ t pushing it or even going particularly fast today . I didn ’ t want to get in a fight and tangle with Cody ( Cooper ). I was cruising in the end . “ I ’ ll be back to defend the title next year ,” said Harwood .
MX2 Meanwhile , local man Maximus Purvis ( Altherm JCR Yamaha ) successfully defended his MX2 ( 250cc ) title from last season when he wrapped up that class with a race to spare at Taupo ’ s Digger McEwen Motocross Park , a great way to
end his domestic campaign before he crosses the Tasman Sea to now tackle the Australian Motocross Championships , although that campaign will be in the 450cc MX1 class . Runner-up to Purvis in the MX2 class this year was Oparau ’ s James Scott ( Honda Racing Team ), with Silverdale ’ s Hayden Smith ( Gas Gas ) completing the podium in this 250cc division . In total , just two riders shared the wins in the MX2 class , with Purvis winning eight of them and Scott the other three races . While Smith had to accept the No . 3 spot in the MX2 class , the dual-class ironman was also still a major winner this season , becoming another rider to win a national title for a second time .
MX125 The series leader in the MX125 class before the start of the weekend , the 20-year-old Smith beat off challenges from Clevedon ’ s Cobie Bourke ( CML
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