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ANOTHER KIWI MOTOCROSS RIDER SET TO JOIN THE WORLD'S STAGE
Due to the generous support from Auckland businessman Greg Halliday of Mainstream Freight, 17 year old motocross rider Blake Gillard, from Beachlands, near Auckland, is on his way to compete in two major motocross events in Europe. In what will be a very quick trip Blake will compete in a round of the German 125cc Championships in Prisannowitz, Germany on July 17 and the following weekend, July 24, he is entered in the Junior World Cup at Jinin in Czechoslovakia.
“Six weeks ago we were only thinking about going when Alan Henderson from motorsport management company HH Media, who also look after racing driver Matt Halliday, made it all happen. Mainstream Freight have sponsored the trip and KTM importer HeyTrack NZ has arranged for a new 250cc 4 stroke to be delivered to Kosak Racing in Germany. Heaps of other people just want to help me such as Image Centre, SsangYong, Cannon Signage, Sportspro and Shayne King with additional funding and services - it’s awesome” said Blake.
Production only started on the KTM 250 SXF this month so the bike Blake is riding is one of the first to be produced. He has been testing a pre-production model for the past four months and is more than pleased with the results. “This bike is world class, very competitive straight out of the box and I am really excited about racing one in Europe” said Blake. “I have been doing lots of physical training and getting as much ride time as I can - I feel really good at the moment.”
Blake raced under the Kosak banner in the 2002 World Cup in Austria when he was part of a six rider team from NZ to race in the Junior World Cup. At this event only two of the six Kiwi riders managed to qualify, Blake on an 85cc and another rider on a 125cc. Unfortunately mechanical problems ended any dream Blake had of a good result. Kosak Racing currently field two GP riders in the World MX2 championship, Maxi Nagl and Aiger Leok. Blake has also been offered assistance from the KTM Factory Team who will also be supporting the American ace Zach Osborne who is the current World Junior 85cc Champion. It is also anticipated that Craig Behl who is Ben Townley’s KTM mechanic will assist the team in Czeckoslovakia after Ben’s South African round of the MX1 World Championships this weekend.
