It’s time to give a big shout-out to all Kiwi vintage motocross racers.
Rock Oil NZ and NZ VMX Inc is pleased to announce the 2018/2019 NZ VMX Series, with the first of eight exciting rounds set for Sunday, September 9, on a course near Waitarere Beach, not far from Levin.
With supporting sponsors Darryl August Motorcycles, NZ Natural Clothing, Flying W Motorsports, and Paul Ireland Digger Hire, NZ VMX Inc continues to build on the success of earlier series.
Club chairman Darryl August notes that what started out as a relatively small series, catering for about 50 riders, attendance at each event has now grown to the extent where on average 130 riders are participating in each event with the final round at Taupo attracting in excess of 160 riders.
Phil Grant, of NZ Natural Clothing and a long time VMX rider, reports that what is attracting riders to the NZ VMX Inc series is that there is pretty much a class for any rider on a Pre 1996 MX or Enduro Bike and what’s more riders are given access to some of the best rolling natural terrain tracks available in the North Island.
As an example, Daniel Ireland, of Paul Ireland Digger Hire Ltd campaigns with considerable success a range of Yamaha TT 500s in the Pre 78 and Evo Class. Likewise Kevin Duncan, of Flying W Motorsports, who imports VMX and other collectible bikes to New Zealand, can often be seen at the events trialling the latest imports prior to the bikes being prepared for sale to eager clients. And it is not unusual to see former New Zealand and international motocross and off-road legends such as Peter Ploen, Darryll King, Damien King and Paul Whibley attend the events on their vintage bikes.
The 2018/2019 will once again see an eight-round series with events being held in Waitarere, Feilding, Central Hawke’s Bay, Marton, Aria, Huntly, Bay of Plenty with the final in Taupo. Riders will drop one round this season making it best of 7 out of the 8 rounds. This will reward those riders who are consistent and attend as many rounds as they can.
Given the growth of the series a few changes have been put in place to further encourage participation. Of note, the Over 60 and Pre 1970 classes will have in place track deviations to cater for older generation bikes and riders. The women will have their own stand-alone race (pre 91 bikes) making room for the ongoing growth this class has seen over the past few years.
The Pre 86 Enduro and Pre 86 4T races will now be divided into Overs and Unders (0 – 200cc, 201 – Open) to encourage greater participation of riders on small bore bikes. Another change that has been made for the next season is to split out the Pre 86, Pre 91 and Pre 96 Mid Bores to cater for the considerable growth in these classes.
Darryl August advises that we can once again expect a mega final event in Taupo in 2019 with an invitation being extended to international and South Island riders to attend the event.
Last year, Australian ISDE and works rider Geoff Ballard and French VMX champion Viv Jacob attended the event along with 12 riders from the South Island.
The additional interest these riders bought to the final event will continue to be expanded on in the next season and will culminate in an annual North versus South race which the north only won by the narrowest margins last season.
More details for the 2018/2019 Rock Oil NZ VMX series, class structure and rules can be found at the VMX.CO.NZ. website and Facebook page.
Words courtesy Andrew Robertson
© Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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2018-19 ROCK OIL NZ VMX CALENDAR:
RD 1 – Waitarere, September 9, 2018
RD 2 – Feilding, September 29, 2018
RD 3 – Hawke’s Bay, October 28, 2018
RD 4 – Marton, November 25, 2018
RD 5 – Aria/Motuiki, February 2019 – To be confirmed
RD 6 – Huntly, March 17, 2019
RD 7 – Whakatane or South Waikato April 22, 2019 – To be confirmed
RD 8 – Taupo, May 11, 2019