1996 World 500cc Motocross, New Plymouth's Shayne King was extremely happy with his "New Look" Honda Red Riders at round one of the Demon Energy NZ Motocross Championships today in Rotorua.

Mx1: CRF450R9

Tauranga's Peter Broxholme took the top spot in the prestigious MX 1 class, while replacement rider, Scotsman Barry Morris brought Luke Burkhart's CRF450 home tenth.

Mx2: CRF250R9

Reigning Champion Rotorua's own Michael Phillips could only manage sixth after an early qualifying session get off, just behind team-mate Christchurch's Justin McDonald.

125cc & U21-125cc: CR125R7

In the newly formed Under 21 125cc Two-Stroke class, youngest team member 16-year-old Cameron Dillon from Taupo finished up third in class and fourth overall in the 125 cc two-Stroke class.

"I am very happy with our first day," said King after qualifying, "are now looking forward to tomorrows racing," he added.

The focus for qualifying was to get all the riders out making their presence felt at the top without giving too much away, while they got valuable time learning this years track and this years bikes, so most of the day was put to good set up use; the bikes only having been with the team for between a week and two weeks.

Alongside the Red Riders 'Factory' team were supported Honda riders from the wider Honda NZ Dealer network, with teams from Cyclespot Honda, Motomart Wellington, Honda First, Coastline Honda, Keown Honda and Team Otorohonda - the widest involvement in a long time, proving the interest and success of this years CRF models has grown.

Provisional Results

Qualifying Round 1

Demon Energy N Z Motocross Championships

Phillips Farm, Rotorua 26-27/10/08

MX 1.

1,Peter Broxholme (Tauranga) Honda CRF450, 2:09,995 secs; 2,Darryll King (Hamilton) Yamaha YZF 450, 2:10.681 secs; 3, Scott Columb (Queenstown) Suzuki RMZ 450,2:10.737 secs; 4, Damien King (Cambridge) Yamaha YZF 450, 2:11.463 secs: 5, Hayden McKay (Christchurch) Honda CRF450, 2:12.886 secs, 10, Barry Morris (Scotland) Honda CRF450, 2:15.340 Sec.

MX 2.

1, Mason Phillips (Te Puke) KTM, 2:13.049 secs, 2, Hamish Dobbyn (Warkworth) Yamaha YZF250, 2:13.287 secs, 3, Daryl Hurly ( Hawera) Suzuki RMZ250, 2:13.383 secs, 4, Darryll King (Hamilton) Yamaha YZF250, 2:13.438 secs, 5, Justin McDonald (Christchurch) Honda CRF250, 2:13.917 secs, 6, Michael Phillips (Rotorua) Honda CRF250, 2:14.034 secs.

125cc Two-Stroke & Under 21s

1,Damien King (Cambridge) Yamaha YZ125, 2:14.884 secs, 2, Matt Hunt (Gisborne) Suzuki RMZ125, 2:17.217 secs, 3, Ethan Marten (Waitakere) KTM, 2:18.402 secs, 4, Cameron Dillon (Taupo) Honda CRF125, 2:18.980 secs, 5, Cameron Negus (Rotorua) Yamaha YZF125, 2:20.751 secs.