Recent international experience will give Reporoa's Hadleigh Knight a huge boost when he tackles major motocross events in New Zealand later this season.

The just-turned 20-year-old HLR Husqvarna Motocross Team rider raced the ninth and final round of the All Japan Motocross Championships (JMX) at the Sugo MX track over Labour Weekend.

The JMX is Japan's premier motocross competition and the last round generated great excitement as the championship finale, although Knight's trip overseas did deprive his Husqvarna team of a presence at the MX Fest at Taupo over Labour Weekend.

Race fans have been assured that loss will be more than be made up for in the coming weeks.

Knight lined up in Japan on a KTM bike supplied by the Uzushio Racing Team and immediately felt comfortable, having previously raced for KTM in New Zealand, and qualified fifth overall.

'I knew then that I had the speed to be competitive. I was only 0.5 of a second slower than the fastest qualifier,” says Knight.

Unfortunately, racing the following day did not go quite according to plan for Knight.

'I only managed 18th overall after the two races. In the first race I had a good start and was in about sixth or seventh position, but I tangled with another bike in a rut and dropped down to about 30th. I managed to fight back but only finished 23rd in the 30-minute race.

'In the next race I got a very average start – back in about 15th place – and it was tough to make up time. I only had a stock motor and a lot of the other riders were on works machines. I fought back to 13th by the end of the race and this was good enough for 18th overall for the weekend.”

Knight says it was a great experience, having met a lot of people and made some great contacts.

'It was all very positive. The standard and speed of the riders is definitely faster that here at home.”

He's now returned to New Zealand to re-join the HLR Husqvarna Motocross Team, a unit that has been re-shaped, re-branded, re-powered and re-invigorated for the coming Kiwi summer.

His team-mate will be Karaka's Kurtis Lilly, who will race a Husqvarna TC125 in the National 125cc class this coming 2016-17 season.

Knight will race one of the 2017-model two-stroke Husqvarna TC250 bikes in the MX2 (250cc) class at the nationals, while the 21-year-old Lilly is hoping to improve upon the No.5 ranking he achieved on debut in the class in 2015 and the No.4 ranking he achieved in the 2016 nationals earlier this year.

Knight finished ninth overall in the MX2 class in the 2016 nationals, despite racing only three of the four rounds because of injury. He finished No.5 in the MX2 class in 2015 and No.2 in the 125cc class in 2014.

These two riders will represent the brand at the four-round New Zealand Motocross Championships, starting near Timaru in February, and at other major events across the country.

Northern Accessories manager Steven Croad said he was thrilled to be able to facilitate the opportunity for Knight.

The HLR Husqvarna Team is supported by Husqvarna New Zealand, www.Workshopgraphics.co.nz, Northern Accessories, Arai helmets, Oakley Prizm goggles, Nationwide Accessories, Advance Physiotherapy, Level Ltd, Dr Trim Ltd, Shift, Motorex, BikesportNZ, Kiwi Rider magazine, Ebbett Pukekohe, Motomuck, Pirelli, EBC brakes and Fox NZ.