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By ANDY McGECHAN:
NEW ZEALAND’S Shayne King has succeeded at almost everything he’s attempted in the world of motocross but still he’s looking for fresh fields to conquer.
The New Plymouth man doesn’t have to go far from home for his newest challenge, with he and wife Yvette set to become first-time parents in about three months.
The former world 500cc motocross champion turned 32 this month and can reflect proudly on a long and glittering international career but, talk to him about retirement or slowing down, and he really bristles.
“I’m actually going as fast now as at any point in my career and, now that I’ve left the stresses and strains of the Grand Prix scene behind, I’m relaxed and really enjoying the sport like never before,” he said. “I’m as fit and strong as anyone racing today and I reckon I’ll prove that once again when I race at the Motocross of Nations in San Jacinto, Southern California, later this month. (Sept 29)
“Stefan Everts has just claimed his sixth world title and he’s 29, and the man who battled him all season long, Joel Smets, is aged 33. Who’d dare to suggest I’m past it?”
He may have a point. He has high profile support from the United States in his next international campaign, that fact itself testimony to the esteem with which this Taranaki man is held overseas.
World renowned American race team owner Mitch Payton is preparing a special Honda CRF450 for King to race in California, a bike that’s expected to be every bit as good as the factory bikes the European riders will bring with them.
King was joined by Motueka’s Josh Coppins and Hawera’s Daryl Hurley to form the three-man Motocross of Nations team that represented New Zealand at the annual event when it was staged in Belgium last year.
They finished No.3 of the 31 countries that qualified and King sees no reason why the Kiwi trio this year – King, Coppins and Taupo’s Ben Townley – can’t equal or better that result this time around.
“Realistically, I’d have to say the Yanks look pretty unbeatable, especially on their home soil, but they’re only human. They still pull their pants on, one leg at a time, same as me. They can be beaten.
“It’s all about how well the Kiwi team can work together. Look at what happened last year … third in the world. New Zealand is a world force at motocross.”
Including this season, King will have been one of the Kiwi elite trio 12 times since he was first selected in 1987. He admits his time may be running out and new blood may be needed in the next few years.
But it may still be some time before King is toppled from his perch as No.1 rider in New Zealand. He comfortably leads the national championships in two classes – 500cc and 250cc – after three of five rounds. He is expected to extend his points lead at round four is in Upper Hutt this weekend.
Meanwhile, in addition to further embellishing his racing CV, King is looking forward to what he claims will be his biggest test and greatest achievement to date, fatherhood.
“Winning the world title in 1996 was the biggest day of my life but I know I’ve got an even bigger one coming up,” he said.
