New Zealand Battle of the Clubs

Thursday 27 June: Taupo Motorcycle Club will host the fourth annual Battle of the Clubs this weekend, on Saturday 29 June. Sharon Cox reports.

Battle of the Clubs is a fundraiser to assist the New Zealand Team to the World Motocross of Nations (MXoN) each year.

The annual event will showcase NZ’s best Motocross rider’s representing their respective clubs in Junior and Senior Teams, racing in the same format as the Motocross world's premier event, staged this year at Teutschenthal in what was East Germany on 28-29 September.

Each team is made up of 6 riders, 3 Juniors and 3 Seniors. Junior 85cc, 125cc and 250cc 4-stroke. Seniors are MX1, MX2 and Veterans (40yrs +). Points are scored as they are in MXoN. A win is 1 point and 20th is 20 points. It's a team's event so the team with the lowest point wins.

Taupo MCC President Tony Watson welcomes the Club Teams to the infamous Digger McEwen Park with track preparations ahead of schedule;

"The track has a new layout from previous years and will be great for spectators to watch close racing. With plenty of opportunity for riders to compete across all classes. It‘s a great friendly event to battle it out for the top club crown. We have another solid year of entries and there should be some very close racing to watch. Battle of the Clubs is a great way to raise funds to top-up MNZ's funding and riders can showcase their talent. The most rewarding part is helping those selected riders get noticed on the World Motocross stage."

ENDS.

Editor: Meanwhile, NZ Team Manager Tony Cooksley, has has now stood down after three years. MXoN clashes with the AMA Vets at Glen Helen that he intends to ride. Tony will be riding Battle of the Clubs in the Vets Class for Pukekohe A.

Motocross Commissioner Bryan Davidson will announce the three man NZ Team and the new Manager soon. Last year a 'travelling reserve' was also taken - that was to Lommel.