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Photo - Big Mac with the Mayor of Upper Hutt prior to the first Oceania event:
Credit - The Dominion Post:
Mike (BIG Mac) McLeod confirmed today from his Upper Hutt based motorcycle business, his intention to seek a further term as Senior Motocross Commissioner. McLeod, a 30-year veteran of the motocross world has participated at every level, competitor, sponsor, supplier and now administrator. He lists his greatest achievements as raising the profile of motocross locally, Nationally and Internationally, being one of the driving forces behind the improvement of the New Zealand motocross Championships by seeking and co-ordinating the imput of riders, sponsors, Industry representatives and administrators alike.
Orchestrating the introduction of the manual that all clubs use as a guideline when holding a round of the National series.
The manual allows clubs to make the best possible use of volunteer hours, ensuring they run an event that gives riders and spectators a great day or days out, gives sponsors an event they can be proud to be associated with and increases the number of spectators attending any given round.
During his current term McLeod and his club have organised the Oceania Motocross Championships in Upper Hutt. These events saw New Zealand dominate the Australians, as well as encouraging greater participation form the local community, obtained signification gates, and received outstanding coverage from local and national newspapers, along with extensive coverage on both free to air TV channels.
Under "Big Mac’s" guidance Teams to represent New Zealand are now picked on their performance rather than their reputation. This has overseen the emergence of New Zealand as an international force to be reckoned with.
With the likes of Ben Townley and Josh Coppins and bearing in mind possible injuries and the availability of mechanics, New Zealand could field the No1 team in the World at the Olympics of Motorcycling (Motocross Des Nations), when it is run later this year in France.
Up and coming riders have been taken to the Asia/Pacific Region’s Motocross and Supercross Series. Extensive networking has lead to New Zealand being able to participate in a lot more events in our greater region and these same networks forged by McLeod has given New Zealand riders the reputation so vital to competing in the Asia/Pacific region. It has also seen more International riders being persuaded to compete here in New Zealand.
A finalist in Upper Hutt’s City Sports Awards for several years and winner in both the "Administrator" and "Official" categories, along with being a finalist in the New Zealand Motorcycling Awards in the "Services to Motorcycling " category, Mike McLeod’s total commitment to our sport is best illustrated by his actions. Not only over the past four years as Commissioner, but in the fact he travelled overseas to undergo training, which resulted in him being appointed New Zealand’s only FIM steward for Motocross, Supercross and Snocross and this was done at his own expense.
McLeod's aim during a new term is to keep encouraging our sport to go forward, to increase spectator numbers at all events and to produce a sport that sponsors will be falling over each other to be involved in. Also he wishes to continue to build on the networking already done in Oceania, Asia and Pacific regions and to see New Zealand No 1 at the Motocross Des Nations.
