New Zealanders have only very rarely been able to race a motorcycling world championships event on home turf, certainly not top-level motocross.
There have been a couple of rare moments of course when New Zealanders have been able to enjoy a “little home advantage”, those being the Superbike World Championships at Manfeild in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992, or the International Six Days Enduro near Taupo in 2006 and the Junior Motocross World Championships at Taupo in 2009.
But not so with top-level senior motocross … so spare a thought for the handful of Kiwis who actually battled onward and became motocross world champions, individuals such as Shayne King, Ben Townley, Daryl Hurley, Tony Cooksley, Katherine Prumm and Courtney Duncan.
The same can be said, of course, for our New Zealand road-racing, enduro, trials, cross-country and speedway heroes, riders such as Hugh Anderson, Ginger Molloy, Graeme Crosby, Percy Coleman, Rod Coleman, Bruce Anstey, Shaun Harris, Robert Holden, Dave and Neville Hiscock, Bob Haldane, Chris Haldane, Geoff Perry, Len Perry, John Hempleman, Noel McCutcheon, Keith Turner, Trevor Discombe, Kim Newcombe, Stu Avant, John Woodley, Rodger Freeth, Richard Scott, Gary Goodfellow, Dennis Ireland, Glenn Williams, Rodney Knapp, Brian Bernard, Stephen Briggs, Aaron Slight, Simon Crafar, Andrew Stroud, Tony Rees, Jake Lewis, Avalon Biddle, Sloan Frost, Stefan Merriman, Andrew Poad, Warren Laugesen, Jake Whitaker, Chris Birch, Sean Clarke, Paul Whibley, Liam Draper, Rachael Archer, Hamish Macdonald, Ivan Mauger, Larry Ross, Barry Briggs, Ronnie Moore, Mitch Shirra, Bradley Wilson-Dean and innovative world land-speed record winner Burt Munro, among others.
These riders fought their entire world championship campaigns on the opposite side of the planet, in the motorcycling world championships hotbed of Europe, many thousands of kilometres away from friends, family and home-town support.
There were many other Kiwis too, riders such as Tim Gibbes (an honorary Kiwi), Ken Cleghorn, Ivan Miller, Darryl Atkins, Bryan Patterson, Craig Coleman, Cam Negus, Mike Cotter, Darryll King, Damien King, Tania Satchwell, Shelley Hickman, Roma Edwards, Josh Coppins, Cody Cooper, Scotty Columb, Kayne Lamont, Hamish Harwood, Josiah Natzke, Dylan Walsh, James Scott, Michael Phillips, John Phillips and certainly many others too (and we apologise if we haven’t known or remembered to list you here), who battled for European, American, Australian or world motocross glory or even just a plate of beans and a place to sleep, to try and beat the best in the world while so far away from support at home.
The closest to home that Kiwi riders have been able to race the ultimate level of motocross has been when Australia hosted the senior world championships in 2000 and 2001, both times at Broadford, in Victoria, about 70 kilometres north of Melbourne
But now, the organisers for the FIM Motocross World Championships, Infront Moto Racing, can announce that, after a 24-year absence, the series will make a return to Australia in 2025 (a short flight from New Zealand, across the Tasman Sea) after a landmark agreement with the Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC), strongly supported by the Northern Territory Governmentto erect this project.
The Australian-exclusive deal, including Motorcycling Australia and NTMEC as key partners, will see the MXGP round held in Darwin in September 2025, and through until 2029, with an option to extend the collaboration beyond the initial five-year term.
This event is set to highlight the Northern Territory’s extraordinary natural beauty globally and build on the ‘Top End’s’ already enviable reputation as an international tourist mecca.
This new round will be held on a purpose-built track at the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex in Darwin (pictured above) and broadcast to more than 100 countries including national channel STAN.
Construction will begin soon at the multi-purpose Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex. An exciting MXGP track will be located to ensure amazing spectator areas to see the heroes of world motocross work their magic.
The MXGP of Australia will feature the established MXGP and MX2 classes as well as the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship.
The Australian round of the FIM Motocross World Championship was previously held at Broadford in Victoria in 2000 and 2001.
With a rich vein of talent coming through the ProMX national ranks in Australia, the MXGP round in Darwin will provide an opportunity for local stars to take part in the world’s premier motocross championship – just like their predecessors did in 2000 and 2001.
The full 2025 MXGP world championship calendar will be announced later this year, including when exactly the world’s best motocross riders will be ripping it up in Darwin.
Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo: “We are really excited to bring the MXGP to Australia and to Darwin, which marks a triumphant return to this vibrant country.
“The anticipation among Australian fans to get their Grand Prix is unparalleled, as they have been waiting and vocals about a round in their homeland for many years now.
“Additionally, hosting the event in Australia not only solidifies its status as a major player in the global motocross scene but also highlights our commitment to showcasing this thrilling sport to fans worldwide and extending the overseas rounds.
“We look forward to witnessing the immense enthusiasm and support from both local and international fans as Australia will becomes part of the MXGP Calendar from 2025 onwards.”
Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Suzana Bishop said: “This is big. The MXGP is an incredibly popular and high-profile major sporting event and to be able to host it here in the Territory is a real coup.
“Not only are tens of thousands of Australian fans expected to attend the inaugural Darwin round, but a huge contingent of international visitors will also make the journey as the city becomes the epicentre of world motocross.
“This high-profile international event of the calibre of MXGP will not only assist to highlight the Northern Territory’s extraordinary natural beauty globally – the iconic Uluru at the top of the list – but also build on the ‘Top End’s’ already enviable reputation as an international tourist mecca and a great place to call home.”
Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle said: “Motorcycling Australia is delighted to see the FIM Motocross World Championship make its long-awaited return Down Under.
Motocross racing at the highest level is electrifying, and I can’t wait to see the world’s best riders battling it out with Australia’s emerging ProMX stars in Darwin.
“It will be fast and furious from start to finish, with local and international fans in for an absolute treat. I’d like to congratulate the Northern Territory Government’s Northern Territory Major Events Company and Infront Moto Racing on forming this new partnership, with Motorcycling Australia be providing all the support it can to make the MXGP round in Darwin a resounding success.”
Main photo supplied
From an MXGP press release, with additional content by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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