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STORM BEFORE THE STORM
By ANDY McGECHAN
IT COULD be billed as the storm before the storm.
There will be plenty at stake as New Zealand 250cc and 500cc motocross champion Shayne King goes head-to-head with Australian 500cc champion Daryl Hurley at the annual King Of The Mountain motocross in New Plymouth on Sunday.
The two Taranaki men are firm friends off the track and fierce rivals on it and Sunday's event will be their last big stoush before they cross the Tasman to begin their Australian championship campaigns.
Joining the two factory stars on the starting grid on Sunday will be two more men likely to feature in Australia this season, Masterton's Luke Burkhart, the national 250cc No 2, and young Aucklander Blake Gillard, the national 125cc No 4 who is tipped to make a start in the world championship GPs later this season.
King’s Honda team-mate Peter Broxholme is making the trip from Tauranga and Scottish former GP racer Stuart Flockhart is driving up from his Wellington base.
The fastest female motocross racer in Australasia, women’s world No 2 Katherine Prumm, from Auckland, is also entered, along with top junior riders Brad Groombridge, Cameron Dillon and Henry Madams.
Though $5000 in prizemoney and trophies are at stake, that is probably of less significance to the high-paid professionals than the psychological boost they'll receive if they win.
And there will be no shortage of other talented riders keen to add shine to their own credentials by beating or at least matching the Kiwi internationals.
Expect Bell Block's Mitch Rowe, the former national champion having his debut ride on the new Yamaha YZ450, New Plymouth cross-country sensation Renny Johnston and Taranaki enduro ace Doug Herbert to also be among the frontrunners.
“They are all warming up now for the new season ahead,” said Taranaki Motorcycle Club president David Furze. “I'd expect some pretty close and exciting racing. It's a good chance for them to beat one another up before their Aussie season begins.
“It will be a great chance for Taranaki people to see how their Sportsperson of the Year, Hurley, and former world champion, King, earn every cent of their factory salaries.”
Furze has promised dust won't be a problem for spectators with the club's new $35,000 sprinkler watering system now in operation.
Meanwhile, Taranaki has been pencilled in to again host a round of the motocross nationals this season. Barrett Rd will host the third round of four in the 2006 series on October 7 and 8.
