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WEST RACING TEAM READY TO RUMBLE
FEBRUARY 27, 2006: New Zealand's assault on the Australian motocross titles just got even stronger.
With the creation of the West! Racing Team, backed by Red Baron Motorcycles in Auckland and Australia, and Kawasaki New Zealand, the Kiwi bid for Aussie silverware has received a massive boost.
Two top New Zealand riders formerly racing other bike brands, Rotorua's Daniel Marshall and Gisborne's Shaun Fogarty, have already expressed great satisfaction with their new Kawasaki motorcycles are looking forward to the 10-round series, which kicks off on April 2.
“I've had the bike (a Kawasaki KXF450) for three weeks now and I'm absolutely stoked,” said the 29-year-old Marshall, current national 500cc No.4.
“It handles like a two-stroke, it's so light and nimble. And the power's fantastic too, so much bottom-end. I thought my last bike was good but, honestly, this Kawasaki just blows that away,” he said.
Team-mate Fogarty is similarly impressed with his two-stroke Kawasaki KX250.
“It's been four months now since I had an operation on my knee and I'm just easing back into riding. But I'm loving the bike,” said the 23-year-old Fogarty, a builder by trade.
“My fitness is not too bad but it will still be a bit of catch-up for me,” said the man who was national No.3 in 2004.
“My goal is to get back to that level.”
Fogarty will also race the four-stroke Kawasaki KXF250 at selected race meetings.
West Racing Team owners Darryn Ball and Aaron Roberts are very pleased with their relationship with Kawasaki.
“We believe that Kawasaki offers us the best opportunity to put our riders on the podium,” said Roberts.
“Red Baron have had a long association with dirt bikes and their sponsorship of our team is a confirmation that t! hey are serious about off road riding in New Zealand. With their experience and expertise we can be sure our Kawasakis will be fast and reliable and the team will have prompt backup and support.
“The aim of the team is to give the riders the best opportunity to get on the podium, drive sales for our sponsors and to be the top Kawasaki team in New Zealand. We can achieve this by being the best funded and managed team. The funding comes primarily from sponsors and we are excited to have Red Baron as a major sponsor and supplying our Kawasaki bikes and support.”
Ball said: “Both our team riders can be on the podium at this year’s motocross nationals and at other events in our race schedule. With Kawasaki and Red Baron, along with other confirmed sponsors Scott, Fox, FMF, Asterisk, Titax, Boyesen, and further sponsors still to be announced, it is going to be an exciting season so watch out for West Racing!”
In the meantime, the West Racing Team's double-pronged assault on the Australian motocross titles gathers momentum this week with the two riders expected to warm-up for the trans-Tasman campaign with a crack at the Auckland Motocross Championships at Mister Motorcycles Park in Harrisville this Sunday, March 5.
