Image: CD Photography.

New Zealander Maximus Purvis has been drafted in to fill the second seat at Monster Energy CDR Yamaha for the opening rounds of the 2025 Penrite ProMX Championship, with Aaron Tanti set to remain on the sidelines as he recovers from a training incident incurred last month.

Tanti suffered a fractured C1 vertebra in a fall that involved clipping a rock on an up-ramp, however was fortunate to escape the need for surgery in the aftermath, instead requiring a halo to restrict movement for the bone to fully heal.

Monster Energy CDR Yamaha Team owner Craig Dack – who has given an update on Tanti’s condition – is anticipating the return of the 2022 national MX1 champion around June, which could potentially see the 28-year-old complete the second half of the outdoors.

“Aaron has our full support in recovering from this unfortunate injury that happened whilst training,” Dack told MotoOnline. “The C1 vertebra is a dangerous bone to break as it is quite high up. Fortunately, it stayed clear of damaging the spinal cord or any of the soft tissue surrounding it.

“As of today, he’s had the halo on for four weeks, and he will have it on for a total of 12 weeks, which takes us to around early April. He will then be up for a lot of rehab after not moving his head for two months, which means I don’t think we’ll see him until June. From there, we’ll assess whether it’s a good idea for him to come back for motocross, or whether we let him fully prepare for supercross.”

With Tanti on the sidelines, CDR has called in Kiwi sensation Purvis – a regular at Altherm JCR Yamaha – to race the opening rounds of the Australian series onboard a factory-backed YZ450F, which is a timeframe that will be further assessed after his opening rounds’ performances.

“Maximus Purvis will fill the second CDR seat for at least the first three or four rounds, and then if things are looking good, we might be able to keep him on – we’ll just need to play that card when the time is right,” added Dack.

“He will spend the week before the first round in Wonthaggi with us, doing some testing, riding his race bike and getting to know the team, then he will probably stay in Australia either until Appin or Gilman, which is the last weekend of April.”

Purvis has previously displayed front-running potential and speed in Australia’s premier motocross category, having brought now CDR Yamaha teammate Jed Beaton’s top-qualifier streak to an end last year, claiming the season’s final pole shootout award at Queensland Moto Park.

“I have been to Australia a few times and have a great relationship with Yamaha there,” Purvis commented. “Every time I have gone, it’s been later in the season and I haven’t been in great shape as I’m coming off our off season, but this year I will go straight from the final round of our NZMX champs and straight into Wonthaggi for the opening round of ProMX.

“I’m really looking forward to it and determined to make the most of this opportunity. Craig has been awesome to deal with in getting things in place and Josh Coppins has been supportive of my racing in Australia, so it’s all coming together well.

“My first goal is to secure a championship for JCR here in New Zealand starting this weekend and then take that momentum into Australia and see where it puts me.”

The 2025 Penrite ProMX Championship is a little over a month away, with round one commencing in Wonthaggi, Victoria, on March 22-23.