Motorsport: Leg up for Kiwi hopefuls

John Phillips in New Zealand Cross Country Championships. Photo / Supplied

Racing at close to the ultimate level of any sport can be tough and, of course, that's to be expected.

But to battle some of the world's elite when you're on the other side of the planet, such a long way from home and family and friends, can be truly daunting.

And that's where former Waipukurau man Rex Michau has stepped in.

A former motocross racer of some note in the Hawke's Bay community back in the 1980s, Michau has spent the past few years living and working in the United Kingdom and now, nearly 30 years later, his name is again popping up in conversations in the Kiwi motocross community and again it's for all the right reasons.

Michau owns and manages the Kiwi DBG Suzuki Race Team, a motocross team formed to tackle the domestic scene in the UK and also to "give a leg up" to a few rising Kiwi stars.

This year he brought Masterton's Bjarne Fredericksen, Rotorua's John Phillips and Elsthorpe's Kieran Scheele under his wing, giving the trio of young riders a taste of motocross at an international level.

They responded with gutsy performances, lining up against Grand Prix riders and scoring points against the odds in three series - the British Motocross Championships, the Red Bull Pro Nats and the British Masters Motocross Championships.

"I left New Zealand 22 years ago to go and play rugby in the UK," said Michau. "When I gave up rugby I got bored and started racing motocross again ... at age 39, would you believe? I also had a company, Dirt Bike Gym, which I thought I could market through having my own race team. It was also a way to give some Kiwi kids a chance.

"So I approached my old club in New Zealand, the Central Hawke's Bay Motorcycle Club, and offered them a chance for a couple of riders to come over to the UK to race. I thought 'let's do it big' and got bike transporters and workshops and trailers, and it's just gone a bit nuts since then.

"Taupo's Emma Davis also joined us and she won the British Ladies Motocross Championships at her first attempt this season.

"The team comprises eight bikes and two mechanics, two Mercedes Sprinter vans and two trailers.

"I'll be asking for applicants from New Zealand again for next season.

"These guys - Kieran, John and Bjarne - are welcome to apply again but I want to start every season with a clean sheet, so there is a chance for a new face to join the team."

This summer, Michau will be in New Zealand showing up at major events to recruit for 2012.