Image: Andy McGechan (BikesportNZ.com).

Australia’s Dean Ferris kicked off his 2016 New Zealand Senior Motocross Championship campaign with an impressive performance at Timaru’s season opening round.

Aboard his Altherm JCR Yamaha YZ450F, Ferris dominated the premier MX1 class claiming victory in all three motos on the day to take the overall win with a perfect score of 75 points.

Behind Ferris was defending MX1 champion Cody Cooper, the Honda rider finished the day with a 2-3-2 moto score combination ahead of Australia’s Todd Waters who rounded out the podium with 3-2-3 moto finishes.

The former MXGP MX1 contender leads the championship standings by 11 points over Cooper with Waters sitting just two points behind the defending series champion with three rounds of racing remaining.

In the MX2 category it was New Zealand’s Hamish Harwood who took home the overall win. Harwood, an MX Nationals regular finished the day on top of the box aboard his MCL Racing KTM.

Workshop Graphics Husqvarna’s Hadleigh Knight was second overall behind Harwood followed by Australia’s Jed Beaton who rounded out the podium on his Valley Fresh Yamaha entry.

Harwood heads to Manawatu’s round two with 67 championship points, six points ahead of Knight trailed by Beaton who sits a further four points behind the local rider.

2016 New Zealand Senior Motocross Championship
Round one – Timaru, NZ

MX1 class overall results:
1. Dean Ferris (AUS)
2. Cody Cooper
3. Todd Waters (AUS)
4. Scott Columb
5. Hamish Harwood
6. Brad Groombridge
7. Justin McDonals
8. Daryl Hurley
9. Yu Hirata
10. Campbell King

MX2 class overall results:
1. Hamish Harwood
2. Hadleigh Knight
3. Jed Beaton (AUS)
4. Kayne Lamont
5. Micah McGoldrick
6. Ethan Martens
7. Logan Blackburn
8. Cohen Chase
9. Joel Wightman (AUS)
10. Sam Cuthbertson

MX1 class championship standings:
1. Dean Ferris 75
2. Cody Cooper 64
3. Todd Waters 62
4. Scott Columb 49
5. Hamish Harwood 49
6. Brad Groombridge 47
7. Justin McDonals 40
8. Daryl Hurley 38
9. Yu Hirata 33
10. Campbell King 31

MX2 class championship standings:
1. Hamish Harwood 67
2. Hadleigh Knight 61
3. Jed Beaton 57
4. Kayne Lamont 52
5. Micah McGoldrick 49
6. Ethan Martens 48
7. Logan Blackburn 46
8. Cohen Chase 41
9. Joel Wightman 39
10. Sam Cuthbertson 38

Click here for detailed results