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FEBRUARY 12, 2007: It just gets better and better for Hamilton-based Kiwi motocross star Emma Davis.
The former Taupo girl, crowned Australian women's motocross championship last year, has just received a Sir Edmund Hillary scholarship from the University of Waikato.
This is a scholarship that supports people who excel both academically and on a national level at their chosen sport.
“I think it is awesome that motocross is now getting recognised by an organisation such as a university,” said the 19-year-old Yamaha ace.
It was in July last year that Davis etched her name in the history books as being the first winner of the Australian Women's Motocross Championship. Davis rode her bike to 2-2-3 at the second and final round of the series at Coolum, run in conjunction with the 10th and final round of the men's series.
That achievement propelled her into the limelight and certainly meant she fulfilled one of the strict scholarship criteria, to be among the elite of her chosen sport.
“The Sir Edmund Hillary scholarship helps financially with my studies to complete my Bachelor of Engineering but also they provide the support and facilities to enable me to compete at my sport to the highest possible level,” she said.
“Up until now I have only ridden my bike on the weekends for fun, as much of my time is taken up by my Uni. This however meant I was only putting a half-hearted effort into both. This scholarship programme is aiming to work my class and training in together and the Uni will provide expert advice, gym facilities and so forth. The Uni is also talking to Darryll King about hopefully becoming my mentor.”
Yamaha's King is the national men's champion in both the 250cc and 500cc classes.
“This is an exciting development for me,' said Davis. `I think 2007 will be a good year. I also have an awesome amount of support from Waikato Yamaha in Hamilton which will allow me to keep my bike (a Yamaha YZ125 two-stroke) in Hamilton and ride during the week which I have been unable to do in the past couple of years.
“It is awesome that the University of Waikato is recognising the true distinction of motocross and I am looking forward to it helping take me to a whole new level in my racing.”
Davis said she believes the women's side of the sport has grown because the sport in general is exploding in popularity.
“I think that, because numbers in motocross in general have grown, the women have followed suit. It's having a bit of a spiral effect because, as there are more women racing, the clubs are prepared to have classes to cater for them, which gives girls an opportunity to race in an environment that's not so intimidating as lining up on the start line with 40 guys,” said Davis.
She's now preparing to head back across the Tasman to defend her Australian title. This year's four-round women's series kicks off in March.
