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Kawasaki Press Release
Photo: Leon Andrew
A great pic taken by NZ's top MX scribe.
Email Andy: He may have a photo of you in his extensive files?
SEPTEMBER 5, 2005: Manawatu motocross legend Leon Andrew has been given the green light.
The Kawasaki Team Green rider will make a belated but very welcome debut in this season's Ssangyong-sponsored 2005 New Zealand Motocross Championships at round two in Timaru this weekend (September 11).
Personal and business upheavals prevented him from lining up at the opening round in Taupo a week ago.
“I arrived at the Taupo track late in the day, just to see a bit of racing, and I can honestly say I'm glad I didn't ride at Taupo. The track looked very nasty and could have jumped up and bitten me,” he said, referring to the numerous riders who saw their respective campaigns take a dive at the unforgiving sand track.
The 36-year-old Andrew is mindful that his late arrival in the four-round series means he has foregone any chance he had to finish the championship at the front of the 125cc class, but he'll just be content to get out and ride again on his Kawasaki KX250F four-stroke.
The 125cc class is a division in which the evergreen veteran has won the national title before, in 1989, and he says he's as fast as ever and firmly believes he will be able to match the leaders at Timaru.
“I am looking forward to getting amongst the action. I reckon, though I'm starting a few points behind, if I can dial into the next couple of tracks, I'll pocket a few points and I could be among the top 10 easily.
“I love the bike, it's so easy to ride. I've still got what it takes and, on any given day, I can produce the speed to match anyone.”
Andrew's recent results speak for themselves -- he beat Kiwi international star Darryll King at the national veterans championships earlier this year.
After Timaru, the national motocross series heads to New Plymouth on October 16 and wraps up at Rotorua on November 20.
