Motorsport: Taupo Grand Prix realises world-class ambitions

More than 20,000 spectators are expected to watch NZ's top riders, including Ben Townley, at the 2012 event. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand will host a round of the Motocross World Championship in 2012.

The event, earmarked for Taupo, is part of the 16-round title chase and will be known as the FIM MX Grand Prix of New Zealand.

The Taupo Motorcycle Club was given the nod after its successful hosting of last year's Junior World Motocross championships and international events in 2006 and 2008.

New Zealand riders have had great success in motocross with world championships won by Shayne King, Katherine Prumm, Tony Cooksley and Ben Townley.

Individual Grand Prix have seen Kiwis standing on top of the podium, namely Josh Coppins, Darryll King and Damien King.

Not only will the event show the best riders in the world going at it on our shores, the television footage will also showcase New Zealand to the world.

Last year, the total television audience for the FIM Motocross World championship was 1.09 billion and 3.8 million followed the title race via live streaming on the internet.

One of New Zealand's best riders, Townley, who is racing in the United States in the AMA outdoor championships, is championing the cause.

"Hosting a Grand Prix in New Zealand will be the biggest ever event for motorcycling in New Zealand - it will positively impact on New Zealand's ability to produce future world champions," says the 2004 FIM MX2 world champion and 2007 AMA Supercross Lites East champion and holder of 12 New Zealand titles.

The Taupo club will pick up the $300,000 tab to run the event but needs help to fund the $800,000 licence fee.

The organisers are working with central Government and the Taupo District Council to secure some of this and are looking for sponsors.

"The licence fee is not simply a token amount to the promoter," says president of the Taupo Motorcycle Club, Geoff Hall. "It is the very real cost of bringing the Grand Prix from Europe to New Zealand.

"There are enormous costs involved with the air travel for riders, teams, officials and staff, let alone freight costs for the equipment.

"However, this is bigger than just motocross - this will deliver real economic and business benefits to Taupo and New Zealand."

The club wants to under-promise and over-deliver and are conservatively estimating that 20,000 spectators, including an estimated 5000 international visitors, will turn up over the weekend generating around $13.8 million for the local economy.

The Taupo Motorcycle Club has a reputation of hosting high-quality international events - the 2006 International race attracted over 20,000 spectators to see some of the world's best riders, including multiple world champion Stefan Everts, Josh Coppins and Ben Townley.

Similarly, MX1 GP riders Gareth Swaenepoel and Billy MacKenzie joined Coppins and then-reigning Junior World Champion Matiss Karro at the 2008 Swann Insurance International Motocross event.

Over 10,000 spectators watched last year's FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, where 80 riders from 11 countries scrapped it out for honours.

The club is committed to providing opportunities for junior riders to compete at the highest level possible.

The FIM has international standards for its approved circuits and the club is taking a long-term approach to develop facilities to meet these criteria.

The Taupo track is the only motocross track in Australasia capable of hosting an international points-scoring event.