Kove NZ debut: Carlin Hedley fifth in MX1 at Huka Honda MX Fest
Carlin Hedley finished fifth overall in MX1 on the Kove New Zealand team's debut at the Huka Honda MX Fest in Taupō on Sunday 25 October.
By ROOST New Zealand desk · · Updated
Quick answer: Carlin Hedley finished fifth overall in MX1 on the Kove New Zealand team's debut at the Huka Honda MX Fest in Taupō on Sunday 25 October.
The Kove New Zealand motocross team made its race debut at the Huka Honda MX Fest at Digger McEwen MX Park in Taupō over Labour Weekend, and Carlin Hedley came away with fifth overall in the MX1 class.
Racing on Sunday 25 October, Hedley (#972) qualified sixth with a best lap of 2:11.815, then scored 7-5-5 across the three MX1 motos for 50 points. That put him fifth in a field of 11.
The riders who raced the MX1 track were led by Maximus Purvis (#44), New Zealand's number-one motocross rider, who was untouchable and won all three motos for a perfect 100 points. Josiah Natzke (#30) was second on 88, Jet Alsop (#45) third on 76, and Tyler Steiner (#929) fourth on 69. Behind Hedley came Toby Winiata (#393) and Jayden McKenzie (#717) on 42 each, Harrison Findlay (#71) on 41, Bryn Codd (#516) on 24, Rhys Johnstone (#746) on 23, and Cody Cooper (#121) on 16 after scoring only in race one.
Hedley also lined up in the Huka Honda Eliminator. He made the Top 40 and Top 20 before exiting ahead of the Top 10 cut, while Purvis went on to win the shootout from Natzke, with MX2 rider Phoenix van Dusschoten third.
For a first outing under the Kove New Zealand banner, fifth in MX1 at one of the North Island's biggest club meetings is a solid start. The MX Fest ran minis and juniors on Saturday 24 October, with seniors, vets and women's classes on Sunday, plus the Alpinestars Dirt Sprints on Saturday night.
MX1 overall (Huka Honda MX Fest 2026)
- Maximus Purvis (#44) — 100
- Josiah Natzke (#30) — 88
- Jet Alsop (#45) — 76
- Tyler Steiner (#929) — 69
- Carlin Hedley (#972) — 50
- Toby Winiata (#393) — 42
- Jayden McKenzie (#717) — 42
- Harrison Findlay (#71) — 41
- Bryn Codd (#516) — 24
- Rhys Johnstone (#746) — 23
- Cody Cooper (#121) — 16
Sources
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