TAKING ON THE KIWIS | Bikesportnz

Kawasaki will have added potency at this weekend’s annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville.

As well as boasting the undeniable talents of riders such as Rotorua’s Scotty Canham, Elsthorpe’s Kieran Scheele, Taupo’s Nick Saunders, Palmerston North’s Tom Hughes and Paraparaumu’s Jesse Donnelly, the men in green will be boosted this weekend with the addition of American import Eric Senk.

Hailing originally from Michigan, but now calling Temecula in California his home, the 23-year-old Senk will add plenty of punch to the Kawasaki effort at Woodville this weekend and also for the four-round New Zealand Motocross Championships that follow.

A seasoned campaigner, the young man from the United States arrived in the country this week thanks to support from Kiwi former motocross world champion Shayne King, of New Plymouth, who is helping to sponsor Senk’s first racing tour of New Zealand.

His Kawasaki KX450F is supplied by MR Motorcycles in Pukekohe, although Senk has brought with him some of his own bolt-on suspension parts from the Kawasaki he races at home.

No stranger to top level racing, Senk has twice qualified to race in the 250cc pro nationals in the United States and he finished 30th at the Red Bud national in 2012 and 26th at the Utah national in 2013.

“I moved to California to be closer to the motocross hot spots of the US,” Senk explained. “I train a lot with (former American factory star) Ryan Hughes and often at the tracks we use there are plenty of factory riders there. It’s good to have fast guys to chase. The factory guys hold the throttle pinned wide open the whole time … they’re crazy.”

“I work for Ryan Hughes as one of his rider trainers. I grew up wanting to be a pro racer but it’s very hard to make money in the sport. I think my riding style is very similar to Ryan’s but I’m still working on a few things.”

Senk first visited New Zealand in Augusta last year, helping Hughes with his rider coaching schools around the country, but this weekend will be his racing debut in New Zealand.

“I loved it here and, after chatting with Shayne (King), we worked it out that I could come back and race. He sorted out the bike for me and everything. I race one of these KX450F bikes at home and I love it, so this arrangement is perfect for me.”

For the two months that Senk will be in New Zealand he has offered to hire himself out for personal coaching sessions.

“If riders want to contact Shayne King (at Crown Kiwi Enterprises in New Plymouth), we can work out some session times, starting the week after this Woodville event.”

Senk is supported by Crown Kiwi Enterprises, MR Motorcycles in Pukekohe, 100%, Bell, Ogio, Ndub Designs, Pro Circuit, Hinson, Ryno Power, BikesportNZ.com and Alpinestars.

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