Pahiatua motorcycle ace Adam Reeves is ready to take on the world.

With the New Zealand Cross-country title safely tucked away, the Yamaha rider is now looking at branching out to tackle one of the world’s premier motorcycle competitions, the Grand National Cross-Country Championships (GNCC) in the United States.

And it’s a competition where the 27-year-old should feel right at home.

Fellow Pahiatua rider Paul Whibley is currently leading the 2009 GNCC series and it was prompting from this man — who is also Reeves’ close friend and sometimes training partner — that encouraged Reeves to seriously consider the American scene, although it will be only rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the 13-round series that he “dips his toes in” this season.

“I’m really excited about it. I’ve just got to stay fit and healthy between now and when I leave at the beginning of September,” he said.

Reeves has enjoyed a glorious 2009 season in New Zealand, not only winning his first national title when the New Zealand Cross-Country Championships wrapped up near Ashhurst just over a fortnight ago, but he also made it back-to-back wins in the popular Yamaha Top Trail Rider Central Enduro series when he won round four near Martinborough just last weekend.

He had also won the previous round of the TTR series, near Pahiatua in April.

“I’ve raised a small amount of money and borrowed the rest, but basically the bank owns this trip.”

Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Full story in your next issue of KIWI RIDER magazine.