Image: Chris Ritchie Foto.

Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Billy Mackenzie will aim to secure second overall in the 2014 New Zealand Motocross Championship after finishing third overall last weekend at Pukekohe.

Mackenzie is using the series in preparation for the Australian MX Nationals opener later this month, gaining vital time behind the gates aboard the 2014 YZ450F.

Defending champion Cody Cooper once again dominated round three on Sunday, while Mackenzie battled to third with a 3-4-4 scorecard.

“The track was awesome today,” said Mackenzie. “We made a few set up changes to the YZ450F that worked well. It felt good to lift the intensity and speed and battle with Cody [Cooper]. But overall it was still kind of an average day for me.

“I’m still working on refining my performance so there’s more to come, and now we want to secure second in the championship at the final round.”

Mackenzie now sits second in the standings 37 points behind Cooper and 12 ahead of another Kiwi, Brad Groombridge.