Clubs to Battle for Kiwi Pride

Clubs to Battle for Kiwi Pride

MAY 25, 2015: The Kiwi motorcycling community will have to band together like never before this season if they hope to see New Zealand once again rank among the world's motocross elite.

New Zealand has a proud tradition of featuring prominently at the big annual Motocross of Nations (MXoN) – widely regarded as the "Olympic Games of motocross" – with a three-rider Kiwi squad having remarkably reached the podium at this international spectacle on three separate occasions.

New Zealand's team stood on the podium in England in 1998 (with Darryll King, Shayne King and Josh Coppins waving the silver fern flag), in Belgium in 2001 (Daryl Hurley, Josh Coppins, Shayne King) and in England again in 2006 (Josh Coppins, Cody Cooper, Ben Townley) and, while these were incredible achievements for such a small nation, it has almost become mission impossible for Team New Zealand in recent times.

Team New Zealand failed to qualifying among the top 20 countries at this event when it was staged in Latvia last September and that means no travel assistance funds are being offered by the world's governing body for the New Zealand team to attend this year's event in France.

The Taupo Motorcycle Club's annual fundraiser initiative therefore takes on added significance this time around.

This year will be the sixth time the Taupo club has run its annual Battle of the Clubs Motocross, and it is hoping it can at least equal, or perhaps even exceed the $10,000 it has previously been able to offer to Motorcycling New Zealand to assist the three-rider squad heading to compete at the MXoN later this year.

This year's MXoN is set for Ernee, in north-western France, just inland from the D-Day landing beaches of World War Two, on the weekend ofSeptember 26-27.

The Battle of the Clubs (BOTC) fundraiser event, set for Saturday, June 27, will see the country’s most talented motocross riders to put aside their traditional rivalries and brand allegiances as they instead join together under provincial colours when they next compete.

The "State of Origin" format used for racing at the BOTC motocross will be very similar to what the Team New Zealand trio can expect when they line up in France against national teams from all around the world this September.

The club-based teams at the BOTC each comprise six riders – three junior and three senior riders – who will compete on 85cc, 125cc, 250cc and 450cc machines.

Each contestant rides twice, with the two worst results to be discarded so that only 10 of the 12 results are counted in the final tally.

The South Waikato Motorcycle Club won last year's BOTC event, while previous winners were the Pukekohe Motorcycle Club (in 2010), the Bay of Plenty MCC (in 2011) and the host Taupo MCC (2012 and 2013).

The entry fee from each of the clubs, plus a gold coin donation from spectators and the proceeds from raffle ticket sales will be a welcome boost for the coffers.

Several of the riders who are likely to race the BOTC event have also been members in the past of the three-rider Team New Zealand Squad, making this fundraiser an international-calibre event in its own right.

Such illustrious riders include Hawera's Hurley, Mount Maunganui's Cooper, Motueka's Coppins, Taupo's Townley, Taupo's Brad Groombridge, Mangakino's Kayne Lamont, Rotorua's John Phillips and Queenstown's Scott Columb.

For 24-year-old Groombridge, the MXoN fundraiser carries special significance.

Groombridge raced for New Zealand when the team finished ninth outright at the MXoN in the United States in 2010 and he knows just how important the event is.

“It’s huge. The MXoN is an awesome event and I’m proud to be supporting New Zealand’s campaign,” said Groombridge.

“It is very important for New Zealand to be represented at this event and I’m just happy that I can support whatever team is chosen to go to France."

His father is Taupo MCC president Stu Groombridge and he was also keen to emphasise the importance of the June 27 event.

"It is vital we do as much as we can to support Team New Zealand to compete in France. Cody Cooper and John Phillips are expected to ride at the BOTC too while they take a break from racing in Australia, so the racing will certainly be intense and exciting."

The three riders (plus a reserve) to represent New Zealand in France in September are expected to be named in the coming weeks.

ends

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