The 2025 New Zealand Motocross Championship kicked off this Saturday in Rautanga, delivering an action-packed first round.
Taylah McCutcheon dominates New Zealand Motocross Championship opener
Australian rider Taylah McCutcheon (1/1/1) stole the show, winning all three motos and asserting herself as a top title contender. Representing Empire Kawasaki, McCutcheon showcased impressive speed and control throughout the day, leaving Round 1 as the early championship leader. Defending champion Karaitiana Horne (2/2/2) put in a consistent performance, securing second place overall. The Kawasaki rider showed great stability but lacked the extra pace to challenge McCutcheon for the win. Despite this, Horne remains in the hunt for another title. The standout performance of the day came from Mikayla Griffiths (3/3/4), who earned her first-ever podium in the New Zealand Championship. The Yamaha rider battled hard in the opening race to claim third and, despite a slightly tougher final moto, secured an impressive third-place finish overall.
A good comeback for Amie Roberts
Olivia Bodle (5/4/3) took fourth place after building momentum throughout the day. Selected for the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, Bodle delivered an electrifying final lap in the last moto to claim third place, proving she’s one to watch this season. Returning to competition after becoming a mother, Amie Roberts (7/5/5) showed resilience in her comeback ride. The Yamaha rider took time to find her rhythm but improved in the later motos, securing a solid fifth place. Just behind her, Hannah Perris (6/6/6) demonstrated remarkable consistency, finishing all three races in sixth position. She was especially strong in the opening race, finishing just two seconds behind Bodle.
Small mistakes for the pursuers
In seventh place, Letitia Alabaster (4/9/7) had an impressive first race, nearly reaching the podium. However, small mistakes in the last two motos cost her a stronger overall result. Mikayla Matthews (8/7/8) delivered a steady performance, showing consistency and securing valuable championship points with an eighth-place finish. Milla Dahlenburg (11/8/10), a member of the New Zealand national team, made a few errors but showed promising speed, finishing ninth overall. Rounding out the Top 10, Bailey Newbould (10/11/9) struggled with small mistakes early in the day but ended the final race on a high note, setting the stage for improvement in the upcoming rounds.
With the first round complete, the 2025 New Zealand Motocross Championship is already shaping up to be a thrilling battle. McCutcheon has made her mark as the early favorite, but with Horne’s consistency and Griffiths’ breakthrough performance, the fight for the title is far from over.
