Rotorua's John Phillips will race the MX2 (250cc) class for The Honda Shop Racing Team as the high-profile Waikato-based outfit completes its rider line-up and prepares to take the New Zealand motocross scene by storm this season.
The team signed up national MX1 champion Cody Cooper, of Mount Maunganui, amonth ago and now the addition of 20-year-old former national junior supercross champion Phillips to the rider line-up makes The Honda Shop Racing Team one of the strongest in the paddock.
A long-time Honda rider, Kiwi international Phillips has been a specialist MX2 class rider for much of his racing career, one that saw him represent New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in France in 2011, as well as impressing in Europe while racing for the British-based Dirtbike-Gym Honda Racing team in 2011 and 2013.
Phillips' last act before rejoining the Dirtbike-Gym Honda Racing team in Europe at the start of this season was to win the final MX2 class race of the 2013 New Zealand Motocross Championships in Taupo in March.
He has now settled back in New Zealand and is looking forward to gearing up in The Honda Shop Racing Team's Alpinestars apparel for the new domestic season. The manager for The Honda Shop Racing Team, Bay of Plenty's former motocross world champion Ben Townley, was thrilled with the latest development.
Rotorua's John Phillips, to be The Honda Shop Racing Team's MX2 (250cc) class rider. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
"I have always believed in John (Phillips)," Townley said. "He has a great ability and the skill set to achieve great things in New Zealand. I'll help him to unlock those skills." The feeling is mutual with Phillips and he is hungry to succeed.
"I so badly want to win the national MX2 title and, in working with Ben Townley, I know this is achievable," said Phillips.
"I want to thank Honda for giving me this great opportunity. I am excited to be fully fit and I'm looking forward to racing some major events for The Honda Shop Racing Team." The team now prepares to tackle the annual Whakatane Summercross in late December and the annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville in January, before setting its sights on retaining the national MX1 crown with Cooper and capturing the national MX2 title with Phillips, the four-round 2014 New Zealand Motocross Championships set to kick off near Timaru in February.
