Dash for Cash helps fuel motocross champs

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The revving of engines echoed out of 88 Valley as around 150 motocross riders took to the Nelson Championships at MotoX Park over the weekend.

Traditionally, the Nelson champs were held yearly but the event was held off last year due to low organisation numbers.

This year, a bout of new memberships drew racers from all over New Zealand.

Motocross New Zealand steward Heath Botica says the Nelson event had a large amount of money up for grabs as cash prizes which helped to set the it apart from the rest of the country.

“A lot of the guys have done quite well out of it a lot more that what they would have got had they competed in other parts of the country.”

Heath says the championships catered to junior and senior classes as well as a ladies race. Racers as young as ten could enter the competition.

Reece Walker took out most of his races after stepping up to a senior level from a junior level racer.

“He rode really, really well,” Heath says.

Reece failed to take out the Dash for Cash race loosing to Hayden Wilkinson who was on a bigger bike. The Dash for Cash puts racers head to head in pairs in a one-lap knockout with a $500 top prize.

Heath says there were only a few minor incidents and he hopes the event has created a greater interest in the sport.

“We had good spectator numbers, it’s a new lot of organisers that have taken it on and it was run really well. Once the word gets out about how much prize money was up for grabs, they might get a bit better supported.”