Cooksley keen to race

HOME RACE: Karaka’s Aaron Cooksley.

Relevant offers

Sport

Plan to combat violence Taking it to the Aussies Soccer clubs rejig Racers seek Ferrari speed Deaf and determined Touch rugby pioneer dies Cribb lends a hand Round the Bays draws 72,000 Wallis surfs his way to national win Fun runners go the extra mile

The chance to race on home soil has Aaron Cooksley all excited about the Auckland Supercross at the Pacific Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday.

"There are not many supercross competitions around so it's really exciting to be riding in one in Manukau," says the 26-year-old from Karaka.

"I'm also looking forward to it because I missed last year's event after being concussed in another race."

The Manukau event doubles as the final round of the New Zealand Supercross Championship.

Cooksley is in for the fun rather than the titles and will be one of more than 60 riders taking part. They range from eight-year-olds to 40-year-olds.

Cooksley got into the sport when he was 16 and has been passionate about it ever since.

"It's great fun. I especially like the jumps," he says.

In Manukau on Saturday riders will jump 24-metre gaps at speeds in excess of 100kmh.

The 2004 world motocross champion Ben Townsley and former New Zealand and Australian champion Cody Cooper will headline the elite class. Townsley can seal the national championship with a win in Manukau. Gates open at 3pm and racing starts at 5pm.