Image: Supplied.

The 2023 New Zealand Motocross Championship (NZMX) concluded with a double-header in Taupo over the weekend, with Maximus Purvis crowned in MX1, Cody Cooper winning MX2 and Hamish Harwood the MX125 title.

Taking the MX1 title in his debut season was Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Purvis, winning the championship by 36 points over Hamish Harwood (CML Makita KTM) in second and Cody Cooper (Bridgestone Kawasaki) in third.

Purvis carried a comfortable points lead heading into Taupo, but that wouldn’t warrant holding back as he went on to win four of the five races held over the two days, winning the MX1 round overall on both days to clinch the title.

“I had some good races on the first day and kept my points gap well into the second day and came away with the championship,” said Purvis. “It definitely feels awesome to win my first MX1 championship. I worked hard all year and it paid off in the end.”

In MX2, it was 39-year-old Cooper who reigned supreme despite doing double duties racing MX1 and MX2, second place was Hayden Smith (GasGas) and James Scott in third (Altherm JCR Yamaha).

Also across two classes, Harwood grabbed the win in the MX125 class, marking his seventh NZMX championship since turning senior. Behind him was Cole Davies (Altherm JCR Yamaha), who dropped a round while racing at the AMA Supercross Futures in the USA. Third place in the championship was Cody Griffiths.