It is “Back on the Peat” for the motocross fraternity later this month.

On March 22 the bikes will once again be roaring around a set track on the peat, for the popular Patetonga on the Peat Motocross.

“I would love to say this time a rainy weather bomb would be great as I don’t think we have seen the rain since last October but I think I will be organising a water truck to water down the track,” said organiser Amanda Fitzpatrick.

“This is the first tournament of the year for the schools motocross teams to compete. With schools travelling as far as Gisborne, Wairoa, and Taupo it’s still telling me these events are few and far between.

“Having said that, I hear plenty of enthusiastic people wanting to run a tournament but as anything there seems to be plenty of ‘red tape’ to cut before it comes to fruition, nothing that a sharp pair of scissors won’t fix so never give up would be the attitude to take.

“It’s so encouraging to have teenage kids email me before and after the event to thank our MX team for putting on the event, fingers crossed this one will run smoothly like the ones before it, the advantage of the peat is that it is soft and if the riders fall off they soon get back on and keep riding.

“I must also mention that without our fantastic sponsors we would not have an event, so huge thank you to Kiwi Rider, NV Motorcycles, Morrinsville; Trendee Promotions, Auckland; Uawa Farm, Mangatarata; Lakes Event Medic, Rotorua; Saunders Mitsubishi, Thames; Torpedo7.com, Hamilton; Walton Meat Packers, Walton; Whyteline Ltd and BikesportNZ.com.

There is a huge number of people behind the scenes doing all they can to make these events a success.

“Neil Ritchie, a nationally renowned commentator for motocross, will be with us once again with the volume turned up high for all the plains to hear, it’s great to listen about the riders and who they are which makes such a difference because the only ones I recognise is the HPC team with their pink mohawks on – a sure way to identify them!

“So if you have a couple of hours free on Friday, March 22, come and see our HPC MotoX team compete against about 24 other schools. Otumoetai are set to defend their 1st placing back in October but with five school trophies up for grabs this time it could be anyone’s day.

“Along with the five school trophies there are 41 individual trophies up for grabs so get your entries in before March 8th – No late entries and taken only by post.”