This could be a Trivial Pursuit question for the Kiwi motorcycling community … who is arguably the best bike racer ever produced by New Zealand?
The name we’d offer up is of a person who actually hasn’t raced at the top level in about 15 years now, but that doesn’t diminish his remarkable achievements in any way at all.
You might suppose that Oparau rider James Scott, aged just 23 and now with New Zealand titles in three separate bike codes, could be a front-runner … and you’d be close.
But, it’s worth noting that, in addition to Scott’s remarkable run of New Zealand title wins over the past few years, there are several other individuals too who have clinched national titles in more than one motorcycling code in recent times.
Scott has now won national cross-country, motocross and enduro titles and winning his first outright enduro title near Masterton at the weekend.
It’s fair to say the list of Kiwi luminaries includes one of Scott’s enduro rivals this season, Taupo’s Brad Groombridge, who was the NZ XC champion for Suzuki in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and NZ enduro champion in 2016 and 2018.
Bay of Plenty’s Stefan Merriman, arguably New Zealands best-ever motorcycling export, with an enviable record of international and national title wins to his name. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
There are others too who have impressed with dual-code domestic titles to their credit, riders such as Marton’s Cam Smith (winning the NZ XC champion for Kawasaki in 2008 and the NZ XC title overall that same season); Awakino’s Adrian Smith (NZ XC champion for Yamaha in 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and NZ enduro title overall in 2012) and Motueka’s Brad Thomas (NZ XC champion for Kawasaki in 2004 and for Suzuki in 2005 and also NZ 125cc senior motocross champion for Kawasaki in 1997).
But, of course, all of this is all overshadowed by the winning international career of Bay of Plenty’s Stefan Merriman (pictured here).
The Tauranga man was four-time senior enduro world champion, in 2000 (250cc), 2001 (400cc), 2003 (250cc) and 2004 (Enduro 1), as well as winning the International Six Days Enduro overall in Spain in 2000 and again in Poland in 2004, in addition to winning his 125cc class overall at the ISDE in the Czech Republic in 2002 and his 250cc two-stroke class overall at the ISDE in Brazil in 2003 and he also won the International Indoor Enduro in Spain in 2003.
Merriman won the Italian Enduro Championships outright in 2001 and 2003, as well as winning the Australian Enduro Championships in 1996 and the Australian Four-Day Enduro outright on three separate occasions, in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
In 1989, Merriman won the World Junior Trials Championship, the Australian Trials Championships and the New Zealand Trials Championships too that same year.
In 1993, he won the Australian Trials Championships, the New Zealand Trials Championships, the New Zealand Supercross Championships (expert class) and the Triple Challenge Supermotard Race.
In 1995, Merriman won the Australian Trials Championships, won the New Zealand Supersport Championships (road-racing) and was overall runner-up in the New Zealand Formula 2 Championships (road-racing).
Phew, that’s going to take quite something to match, let alone surpass, and this would all arguably install Merriman as New Zealand’s best-ever motorcycling export.
© Words by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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