A FAMILY AFFAIR | Bikesportnz

The New Zealand motocross community is sometimes referred to a big family and perhaps none epitomise that more than brother and sister racers Jacob and Kelly Kneebone.

The Kneebone siblings, 18-year-old Kelly and 16-year-old Jacob, have been blazing motocross trails in New Zealand for several seasons now and each of them have enjoyed more than their fair share of success.

They each have plenty of reason to demand the spotlight, even though both Jacob, a sixth former at Matamata College, and Kelly, a pool lifeguard in Matamata, have been racing motocross just five years now.

Part of the reason for their success comes about because they support each other so well.

When Kelly turned up to race in the New Zealand Veterans’ and Women’s Motocross Championship near Feilding at the weekend, Jacob was more than happy to loan his big sister his 2011-model Yamaha YZ250F.

“It’s a newer bike than my one,” Kelly pointed out.

And the support didn’t end there either. With Jacob obviously not eligible to race either as a veteran or a woman, he was more than happy to act as ‘pit bitch’ for his sister.

“There’s a bit of role reversal for you,” Kelly laughed. “It’s usually me being the helping hand in the pits. Now he’s my pit bitch.

“I try to ride at least once a week but I probably needed a little more practice on this bike,” said Kelly, who ironically still managed to live up to the ranking displayed on her borrowed bike as she finished fifth overall in the senior women’s category.

“It was like being a factory rider with Jacob running around on me … I had clean bike and goggles all day.

“We ride together a lot for practice but he always beats me, but this weekend was all about me and that was nice.

“So many girls race motocross these days. It’s such a family affair in the pits that I think everybody feels very comfortable in this sport.”