Rain throughout the weekend in Taupo did not deter the crowd of more than 10,000 who enjoyed thrilling racing in what was the first time the Junior Motocross World Championship event has been held outside Europe.

Eli Tomac (Honda) was the only American rider at the event and he won the 125cc class ahead of Australian Tye Simmonds (KTM) and Kiwi rider Hamish Dobbyn (Kawasaki).

Warkworth’s Dobbyn is the first Kiwi ever to finish on the podium. He said: “It’s wonderful to finish on the podium at my home event. Many people supported me but for sure I would not reach this result without my family and without Ben Townley, who helped me a lot.”

New FIM Junior World Champion Tomac was a favourite already before the event. Tomac said: “It was nice to compete in New Zealand. Thank to the organizer to prepare this wonderful track. I think I haven’t realised yet I became the World Champion. Thank also to sponsors, family and everybody who helped me to get this result.”

Australian Simmonds said it was a wonderful feeling to become the Vice World Champion: “I got the second place after winning the second moto. The organizer made a good job on the track. Competing here was an honour for me.”

Glenn Coldenhoff from the Netherlands, the third-ranked rider from the Junior World Championships in 2008, finished fifth. Coldenhoff said: “I am very disappointed. I wanted and I expected to finish on the podium. Especially after yesterday’s Qualifying Practice, where I finished second. Thanks to our federation, I would not be here without their help.”

85cc CLASS

In the 85cc class Jay Wilson won Australia’s first ever motocross World Championship ahead of Italian Samuele Bernardini and Australian Dylan Long. Wilson won the first race, while Bernardini was the best in the second. Wilson said: “I’m really happy to get the World Champion Title here in New Zealand. Although the weather conditions it was a great weekend. I was enjoying very much and thank to everybody for the support.”

Bernardini was very satisfied with the second race and also with the result. The new Vice World Champion said: “I am very happy. I crashed in the first race, then I took the holeshot in the second and won. Big thanks to sponsors, mechanic and of course to our Italian Federation, which helped me to come over here in New Zealand.”

Long was satisfied with the weekend and he said: “My whole team has been working very hard and I am glad for this result. The track was great.”

Sensational result of the home rider in the 125cc class combined with 13 year old girl Courtney Duncan’s 6th to take New Zealand to the third place in the Nations Trophy. The result of a young girl, competing in the 85cc class was the best ever by a female in the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship racing and she demonstrated her outstanding riding ability by finishing fourth in the second race.

French rider Dylan Ferrandis, who took the pole position in the Qualifying Practice, crashed during the warm-up and broke the arm. He was out of the competition before it has actually started.

Australia took first place in the nations classification. Italy was second, New Zealand third and the Netherlands fourth.

The FIM Junior Motocross World Championship 2010 will be held in France.

Photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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