Eric Thompson

Mendota Heights

Staff Writer at Daily Norseman

Former longtime writer for @DailyNorseman. NDSU alum.

Articles

Kiwi driver Matthew Payne eyes strong performance in Tasmania Supercars

6 days ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Matthew Payne aims to build on his success at Taupō when racing in Tasmania this weekend. Photo / PhotosportKiwi Supercars’ driver Matthew Payne is looking forward to building on his good form from the last round at Taupō when the action hits Symmons Plains, Tasmania, this weekend. Payne left the New Zealand round of the championship with the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy after winning two races and clinching a fourth place. “Taupō was certainly pretty good,” Payne told the Weekend Herald.
Dixon seeks elusive Barber victory in tight IndyCar season

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Scott Dixon: 'There have been years when we really thought we were going to win it, but it just slipped away.' Photo / PhotosportMultiple IndyCar race winner New Zealander Scott Dixon might be second on the all-time list with 58 victories, but Barber Motorsport Park is one place he’s yet to knock off. In 14 starts he’s had nine podium finishes and this weekend he’d really like to get that elusive first win in Alabama and his first win of the season.
Kiwi teen bucks the trend in tough Moto3 world championships

2 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Cormac Buchanan has a highest placing of tenth in Moto3. Kiwi teen Cormac Buchanan is getting up to speed in his rookie FIM Moto3 season, with the evolution more mental than physical. The Moto3 world championships are probably the most cut-throat of the three classes (MotoGP and Moto2 the others). With up to 30 riders at each round, it has the biggest fields and is packed full of the hungriest junior motorcycle racers in the world.
Motorsport: Brendon Hartley determined to get World Endurance Championship season back on track

3 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley. Photo / Getty ImagesBrendon Hartley is aiming to get his season on track when the World Endurance Championship resumes at Imola this weekend. The 35-year-old Kiwi is a four-time WEC champion but he and co-drivers Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa had to settle for fifth in the opening round at Qatar in February.
Supercars Taupō: Kiwi Matthew Payne claims Jason Richards Memorial trophy

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Matt Payne won Sunday's race in Taupō to claim the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy. Photo / Photosport. The fight for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy went down to the last race of the Supercars weekend with New Zealander Mathew Payne reigning supreme in Taupō. After a short hiatus across the Ditch in the hands of last year’s winner Anton De Pasquale, the Jason Richards Trophy is now back in the hands of a Kiwi.
Supercars Taupō: Matthew Payne, Ryan Wood provide Kiwi highlights on day one

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Matthew Payne won race 8 of the V8 Supercar series in Taupō. Photo / PhotosportMatthew Payne and Ryan Wood provided the Kiwi highlights on the first day of Supercars racing in Taupō on Saturday. Ryan scored his third first and Wood his first third in the afternoon’s opening sprint race. The crowd was appreciative of the double podium for the New Zealanders but didn’t see the feat replicated in race two.
Taupō Supercars: New Zealand driver Andre Heimgartner seeks repeat win

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Supercars driver Andre Heimgartner is keen to emulate his feat of last year at this weekend’s Supercars round at Taupō. The 29-year-old became only the fourth Kiwi driver to win on home soil when took line honours in race one of the weekend. Heimgartner sits 10th equal on the point’s table after two rounds on 244. Will Brown is the current series leader on 467 points followed by Cam Waters (460), Broc Feeney (418) and Chaz Mostert (333).
Motocross champion’s heart scare: ‘I had no idea what was going on’

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Courtney Duncan: "I had no idea what was going on, which was quite tough as it seemed like the world was ending." Photo / Full Spectrum MediaFour-time Women’s World Motocross champion Courtney Duncan has had a health scare that’s ruled her out of the opening round of the 2025 season at Sardinia this weekend. Duncan, who won the title in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023, began experiencing chest pains about eight weeks ago and was eventually taken to hospital.
Liam Lawson: How the fans got it right and Red Bull got it wrong - Opinion

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Eric Thompson

Liam Lawson's short stint in the top Red Bull team ended after the Chinese Grand Prix. Photo / Mark Thompson, Red BullOpinion by Eric ThompsonEric Thompson is a motorsport writer for NZMELearn moreTHREE KEY FACTS:Liam Lawson has been demoted by Red Bull after just two races. The Kiwi has made way for stablemate Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson returns to Racing Bulls after spending time there in 2023 and 2024. OPINIONInstead of giving you wings, Red Bull Racing now seems to be winging it.
That's Life - A beach picnic shouldn’t leave a legacy - Local Matters

1 month ago | localmatters.co.nz | Eric Thompson

A small article in the March 17 issue of this esteemed publication made me nod my head so hard I nearly had whiplash. I’m about as far from a tree hugger as you can get. I don’t sit in the middle of roads, chain myself to various things or protest over a three-eyed, polka-dotted, semi-endangered bog snail. However, I do appreciate the effort involved and all the hard work entailed, in keeping a coastal area free of predators and rubbish.