Motorsport: Kiwi juniors revving up to take on world's best

Cameron Dillon hopes he'll be able to capitalise on the home advantage in this weekend's Junior Motocross World Champs in Taupo. Photo / Andy McGechan

For a small country, New Zealand has produced a stunning line of motorsport champions.

Over the years it has also attracted some of the world's greatest exponents on two and four wheels as well as rounds of world championships, and this year is no different.

For the first time since its inception in 1999, the annual FIM Junior Motocross World Championship will be contested outside Europe.

This weekend, the Taupo Motorcycle Club hosts some of the best under-18 motocross riders in the world. The 85cc and 125cc racers hit the sandy Digger McEwen Motocross Circuit in Miro St for the first official practice at 9am tomorrow.

FIM Motocross president Dr Wolfgang Srb said it was a very important step for the championship, as it would be for the first time outside of Europe. "I am happy that this task was given to New Zealand."

New Zealand's top junior motocross riders will compete against riders from countries as varied as Latvia, Guatemala, The Netherlands and New Caledonia, said Geoff Hall, president of the Taupo Motorcycle Club.

"We are extremely pleased with the standard of riders competing - Glenn Coldenhoff from The Netherlands and Dylan Ferrandis from France finished third in their respective classes in last year's junior world championship."

For the past year, our best junior riders in both classes have been under the wing of two-time world 500cc motocross runner-up Darryll King.

After months of intensive training in physical fitness and race craft, the final 24 Kiwi riders were selected with four reserves.

They have been training on Taupo's pumice surface and should have a slight advantage over the international riders.

The forecast damp conditions will aid the home riders and partially negate the outright speed of some of the overseas contestants, especially American Eli Tomac who has already won 60 United States national titles.

"All our top riders are here, injury- free and in good condition," said King from Taupo. "It's not just me, we had Josh Coppins and Ben Townley look after them on some coaching days.

"Hard work is how you get results and we've worked these guys pretty hard. It's been hard on the parents as well with all the driving to and from Taupo, especially on the days it was two degrees, freezing and raining. But the kids will benefit and the parents will see the results over the next two days."

Former MX2 world champion and US supercross winner Townley has been passing on advice and tips as he recovers from his surgery. After winning the 2007 East Lites Supercross title he has been sidelined for all of the 2008-2009 season as he continues to rehabilitate his shoulder.

Like King, he thinks Kiwis Cameron Dillon and Hamish Dobbin are in with a better than fair chance to put the others to the sword.

"It's a big testament to the Taupo Motorcycle Club that they got the championship here. There's never been a motocross race in New Zealand where a world championship has been up for grabs and these kids are going to learn a lot, racing against some of the fastest under-18-year-olds in the world."

Dillon, the defending New Zealand junior champion, is quietly confident that he has the measure of his foreign and domestic rivals.

"I'm quite excited about the weekend and we've been practising on the track up until a month ago," said Dillon. "I'm hoping it'll give me an advantage over some of the overseas riders but some of them are quick. It'll be down to the day but I'm feeling good."

In the 85cc class, Kiwis Micah McGoldrick, Brandon Tipene and Logan Blackburn look to have the best chance of snatching the world title.



CONFIRMED ENTRIES 85CC

Dylan Ferrandis, France
Larsvan Berkel, Netherlands
Jeremy Seewer, Switzerland
Samuele Bernardini, Italy
Michaboyde Waal, Netherlands
Gregory Vernier, France
Laurent Fath, France

New Zealand team
Aiden Kiff (Silverdale), Brandon Tipene (Auckland), Callum Moore (Featherston), Campbell King (Brighton), Courtney Duncan (Palmerston, Otago), Dane Russell (Ngaruawahia), Dion Picard (Atiamuri), Garth Amrein (Katikati, reserve), Haki Waller (Feilding), James Anderson (Foxton, reserve), Logan Blackburn (Tauranga) , Micah McGoldrick (Rangiora)

CONFIRMED ENTRIES 125CC

1. Glenn Coldenhoff, Netherlands
2. Davis Ivanovs, Latvia
3. Giacomo Del Segato, Italy
4. Jamie Collins, Great Britain
5. Raiarii Vonbalou, France
6. Eli Toma, United States
7. Donny Bastemeyer, Netherlands
8. Mathias Bellino, France
9. Josselin Prunaux, France
10. Cedric Francois, France
11. Estefan Castillo, Guatemala

New Zealand team
Cameron Dillon (Taupo), Craig Smith (Christchurch), Ethan Martens (Waitakere), Hamish Dobbyn (Warkworth), Isaiah McGoldrick (Rangiora, reserve), John Phillips (Rotorua), Jonathan Martelli (Reporoa), Kayne Lamont (Mangakino), Kieran Scheele (Elsthorpe), Matt Hunt (Gisborne), Mitchell Rees (Whakatane), Sam O'Callaghan (Cromwell, reserve)

EVENT PROGRAMME
Entry tomorrow is free for all spectators and tickets are available at the gate on Sunday. $15 for adults and $10 for a child. Children under 5 are free.

Practice starts at 9am tomorrow and Sunday with the 85cc racing starting at 12.10pm on Sunday - the second 85cc race will be at 2.10pm and the 125cc class will be in action at 1.10pm and 3.10pm.