Round 2 of the 2009 Demon Energy NZ Motocross Championships was held near Rotorua on Sunday. Team Honda Racing were there in force, and proved teamwork and consistency dominates Championships.

The event saw four seasons in one day, with the riders competing in the rain one minute and in brilliant sunshine for next. After a solid shower the MX 1 class lined up at the start.

Christchurch's Justin McDonald (Honda CRF450R) had a conservative start as he knew the circuit would be very slippery. The track conditions proved to be about the only consistent feature of the day with the fickle weather changing from rainy to showers. Justin worked his way through to second showing that at the midway part of the series his fitness is spot on for these 30 minute races. McDonald's (Honda CRF450R) continual consistency lap after lap showed his trip to the USA and time with the Team has improved his race craft. He took 2nd.

Race's 2 and 3 followed much the same pattern with Justin taking all three 2nd's and was 1st overall on the day! “It is not always about winning races, it is about winning a Championship,” said McDonald after racing.

In the MX 2 class Rotorua’s Michael Phillips, Mount Maunganui’s Peter Broxholme and youngest team member Taupo’s Cameron Dillon all consolidated their Championship positions on their Honda CRF250R behind a hard charging Scott Columb (Suzuki). The third race for the MX 2 class saw the Red Riders in the thick of the action. Broxholme came together with Columb and subsequently retired. Phillips took two podiums and a 5th, Dillon two 5th's and a 4th. All very consistent.

“The weather didn’t help most teams, but Honda was very strong,” said race team manager Shayne King. “We are very pleased with our standings and the team is looking forward to the remaining rounds” he added. "In short the Team works".

Provisional Results:

Round two

2009 Demon Energy NZ MX Champs.

Rotorua

October 18, 2009

MX1:

Race One:

Hayden Clark (Hamilton) Yamaha, 1; Justin McDonald (Christchurch) Honda, 2; Shaun Fogarty (Auckland) KTM, 3

Race Two:

Cody Cooper (Mt Maunganui) Suzuki, 1; McDonald; Clark,3

Race Three:

Mason Phillips (Mt Maunganui) Kawasaki, 1; McDonald, 2; Fogarty KTM, 3

MX2:

Race One:

Scott Columb (Queenstown) Suzuki, 1; Michael Phillips (Rotorua) Honda, 2; Cameron Dillon (Taupo) Honda, 3; Peter Broxholme (Mt Maunganui) Honda, 4

Race Two:

Columb, 1; Phillips, 2; Broxholme, 3; Dillon, 4

Race Three:

Jesse Wikki (Hamilton) Honda, 1; Dillon, 4; Phillips, 5