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Riders wanting to compete in the FIM’s World 500c Motocross Grand Prix in Australia have been asked to contact the MNZ office for registrations of interest.
The event is scheduled for March 18-19 in Broadford north of Melbourne and is expected to attract twenty of the worlds best motocross riders for this round of the Championships.
The world’s leading motocross riders contest 12 championship rounds each season with one round to be held in Broadford for the next three years. Australian Sports Minister Justin Madden said the state government would provide $NZ 300,000 to help fund the event.
Limited to just 8 entries per Federation, competition for the top slots is expected to be keen. Brothers Darryl and Damien King are expected in the line up along with current 250 and 500cc Kiwi champion Michael Cotter and current Kiwi 125 and Aussie Top Thumper Nationals champ Daryl Hurley of Taranaki.
Shayne King is expected to advise his availability for the championships shortly, but with an imposing US Supercross season pending its not known if he will be available.
MNZ Motocross Commission Director Dave Craig believes it can only benefit our riders having a world round in Australia.
“It’s great to have the round so close to home, our guys get to look over the world class competition and to see just how well we stack up against the Europeans. It’s certainly a lot easier on our guys not having to travel around the world for this level of competition.
We have the riders with the skills and talent, if we can add some world class experience to that equation we’ll continue to perform well at the top levels of international motocross” said Craig.
Also expected to front for the World Round will be current title holder Italian Andrea Bartolini and former Husaberg rider Joel Smets now riding for KTM. Smets will lose former Palmerston North mechanic Glen Woodman who’s joining Darryll Kings crew for an all out assault on the championship.
Event maverick Steffan Everts the multi world title 250cc winner is likely to be a serious contender jumping from the 250cc class into the thumping 500’s.
While the 8 member Kiwi contingent will have top calibre contenders, they’ll need to be firing on all cylinders to out gun the worlds best.
Issued by: Wayne Green
MNZ Media & Publicity
Ph. 07 8433 043
025 222 0007
e mail. wayne@wave.co.nz
Further Information: Dave Craig
MNZ Motocross Commission
Ph. 025 344 438
