MX2 New Zealand Motocross Champion Scott Columb will switch to a YZ250 two-stroke with the JCR Yamaha Altherm Racing team in his title defence next season.

Columb won the title aboard a YZ250F in 2013, however he’s officially traded to the two-stroke which won the 2011 and 2012 titles with Darryll King.

After undergoing surgery in the off-season, Columb is back training and anticipating another strong campaign.

“I had some remedial surgery done immediately after I’d wrapped up the national title and I’m now fully fit again,” Columb said. “I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time. The surgery was to repair a knee injury I suffered in a skiing accident when I was aged about nine.

“It was something I just put up with all these years. I remember falling over when I was playing racquet-ball at school, that’s how bad it was.

“My leg is more stable than it’s ever been and I now feel confident sticking my leg out in corners on the Motocross bike. My fitness right now is great. I’m really looking forward to racing the Altherm JCR Yamaha YZ250.”

Columb and his JCR Yamaha Altherm Racing team will begin the new season by racing the YZ250 at the big annual Taupo Motocross Extravaganza at Labour Weekend on 26-27 October.

Following the Labour Weekend event at Taupo, Columb and the JCR Yamaha Altherm Racing team will tackle the New Zealand Supercross Championships, the Auckland Motocross Championships and the Whakatane Summercross just after Christmas.

The new year will feature the annual Woodville Motocross GP and then he begins the defence of his National MX2 title during February and March.