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NEW ZEALAND motocross championship favourite Luke Burkhart was in a state of shock after his national title campaign was derailed by a daring daylight theft in Palmerston North’s Main Street on Tuesday afternoon. (November 14)
The raid couldn’t have happened at a worse time, with the national series’ final round just four days away.
The 16-year-old Masterton rider had just returned from a test session near Foxton, training with Yamaha team-mate Henry Devereux (Dunedin), when the group, which included their parents, stopped off at a coffee shop near The Square.
At about 4pm, the bike trailer was unhitched from their vehicle, which was parked outside the Downtown Cinema 8 complex, and, according to passers-by, was hooked up to a \"mustard-coloured SL-model Holden Torana\" and driven off at high speed.
\"We’re devastated, said Burkhart’s mother Donna. \"These people probably have no idea just how valuable these bikes are to us. In addition to the two bikes (2001-model Yamahas, a YZ125 and YZ250), the trailer contained specialised tools, spare parts, tyres ... the lot. It’s all worth well in excess of $40,000. The two bikes alone are probably worth more than $30,000.\"
The trailer is an aluminium box construction, painted navy blue and has \"Yamaha Factory Racing\" sign-written on both sides.
The current national 125cc class No.4, Burkhart had won five of six 125cc races at the opening round of the nationals near Carterton at the weekend and had anticipated wrapping up his first senior national title at round two in Taupo this weekend.
National 250cc No.9 Devereux is running 13th overall in the 250cc class after round one.
\"The timing is so amazingly bad,\" said Mrs Burkhart. \"We’ll reward anyone who supplies information that leads to the recovery of the two bikes, tools and trailer,\" she said.
The country’s Yamaha motorcycle importers, Auckland-based Moller Yamaha, have vowed to do all it can to ensure Burkhart and Devereux are well equipped with fresh machinery to compete in Taupo this weekend.
\"We will do whatever is required,\" said Moller Yamaha chief Perry Francis.
\"Naturally well feel for what has happened here and hope the scum will be caught. It’s very disappointing for Luke and Henry.
\"Luke’s No.2 bike is all ready to go and we will make another YZ125 available for a back-up for him. We will also loan Henry a spare YZ250.\"
