An extra trip to Australia is on the cards now for Kiwi international motocross hero Hamish Dobbyn.

The 24-year-old from Warkworth was a stand-out rider at the season-opening MX Fest at Taupo over Labour Weekend, winning himself an entry into Australia’s famous Manjimup 15,000 motocross spectacular in May next year.

He also came extremely close to winning the MX1 class outright on Sunday, both achievements remarkable seeing as how he has only just stepped up from the MX2 class – where he had finished runner-up to Husqvarna-mounted Mangakino rider Kayne Lamont in the nationals last season – and that the weekend’s MX Fest event was his first major outing on the new Husqvarna FC450.

“We’ve done nothing to this bike yet … it’s completely stock standard,” said Dobbyn, just returned from representing New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in Latvia.

“We still have a lot of testing to do with the bike but things are looking good.

“I have not spent a lot of time on this bike yet, but I was still hoping to be able to battle for the wins and that’s what happened. I had a bit of bad luck in one race and ended up finishing ninth, so that cost me a bit.”

Dobbyn was taken down in the first turn in his third of five MX1 class races, but his charge through the field from last place to eventually claim ninth spot was an awesome sight.

“I had suffered a head injury while practising at home last season and recovery from that sort of ruined my nationals campaign and also impacting on my bid to win the MX2 class in Australia this year. I had to withdraw from Australia after just two rounds because things still weren’t quite right.

“I had had three and a half months of nothing until I got the late call-up for the Motocross of Nations (in Latvia in September).

“Then I had another crash while leading the Speedcross final on Saturday night and that really rung my bell. That was a bit of bad luck because I should have won that.

“But that’s all in the past now and I’m looking forward to the New Zealand Motocross Championships (which kick off in New Plymouth in February).”

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

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