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Photo - Hayden Fitzgerald:
MNZ - Press Release:
Ivan Mauger, Aaron Slight, the King brothers and more recently Ben Townley and Josh Coppins are five iconic names in the motorcycling world and New Zealand’s general sporting heritage. They are by no means exclusive – New Zealanders have collected 22 World Motorcycling Titles.
To maintain the momentum Motorcycling New Zealand has retained five young riders in its High Performance Programme, now two years old. The five riders representing motocross, road racing and enduro are;
Katherine Prumm(Auckland)
Scott Columb( Queenstown)
Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth)
Dominic Jones (Invercargill)
Paul Whibley (Marton)
In announcing the personnel, Trevor Gill, MNZ CEO, explained the programmes evolution.
“We have retained the level of funding available for this but the number of riders has been reduced. Last year we worked on a squad basis which meant we could train over 20 elite riders. The five contracted riders that have been retained are going to receive much more intensive management on a scholarship type of arrangement,” said Gill.
Sixteen year old Katherine Prumm, a student at Pukekohe High School, is considered by many to have the ability to be the women’s world motocross champion. Riding in the first round of the SsangYong NZ Motocross Championships last weekend she decimated the women’s field in all three races, this weekend she will take on the Australian women. Katherine is a finalist in the Nescafe Big Break Awards.
Twenty year old Scott Columb has just returned from a European racing trip where he was mentored by Coppins and Townley. Columb is ranked 4th in New Zealand Motocross, but after the first round of this years champs he is sitting in second place in the 125 class.
Road Racer, Hayden Fitzgerald (19), proved he has the ability by finishing sixth in his first senior year. As part of the programme, Hayden will compete in two rounds of the Australian 600cc Championships under the guidance of top rider Brian Bernard.
Dominic Jones, (19), is the current NZ Road Race 125cc number two. As part of his high performance management Jones will step up to the 600cc bikes this year.
The fifth squad member is the oldest. Paul Whibley (25), is currently competing in the World Enduro Championships and is in sixth place. Whibley's achievements have been much understated- he is capable of a world title over the next four years.
