Hamish Dobbyn is back - on a Honda.

In April 2008 Hamish was just 16 and accepted an 'invitation' to ride for Brouwer Motors KTM based in Zwartebroek, Holland. That meant he would not contest the New Zealand Junior Motocross Nationals at Otorohanga at the end of June. Hamish was undoubtedly the 'hot ticket item'.  Yamaha NZ's Peter Payne generously gave Hamish 'leave of absence' from his Yamaha contract.

Brouwer Motor's team rider Aigars Bobkov, from Latvia, who competed in MX2 was out for the season with a serious knee injury.  That has created an opportunity and Hamish was supported by Jan Doeksen.   It didn't work out and he 'walked', then had a brief stint with a Kawasaki team in Belgium. In July he headed home, stayed for two weeks and then was off to Australia to fulfil his Yamaha contract and compete in the last two rounds of the Australian Under 19's and the Victorian Champs, all under the wing of OzMotoX promoter Kevin Williams.  

In 2009, three weeks before the Junior Worlds, Fly Team Green Kawasaki, announced Hamish would be riding for them at the FIM Junior Worlds in Taupo.  On Sunday the 16th of August he put on a stunning performance and came home 3rd.

Prior to that NZ's best ever performance was Blake Gillard's 4th at Jenin in the Czech Republic in 2005.  2006 it was in Finland and two Kiwis, Brad Groombridge and Matt Hunt failed to qualify - Brad missed out by 1 sec.  Hamish went to Bulgaria in 2007 with Harry Everts and missed qualifying by 200ths of a second. You may recall Brad was not eligible for the Taupo event as he had just turned 19 on the 5th of August - missing by 11 days. 

The nagging knee injury had been around for a while. Strengthening the quad muscle group above the knee did help, like it did for Catherine Prumm, but it was always a risk that he could further damage it beyond repair.  Surgery was the only option.

Moto-Media had been told he was back training on a Kawasaki.

Eight plus months and he's back racing and has entered the Senior Nationals starting this Sunday at Timaru. 

He raced at Rodney last weekend and none of that raw speed had been lost.  He practiced at Ardmore on Wednesday and the Honda was on the rev limiter more often than not.   

Moto-Media spoke with new sponsor Dave Leary who said that Hamish really wanted to return to Motocross "under the radar." 

Hamish ? never.  The length of time off the bike will do him no harm and I would put money on it that he will be at the pointy end of MX2 Qualifying at Timaru this Sunday morning. 

Hamish posted this pic of the Honda on Facebook.

The Honda deal has been put together by Dave Leary, a longtime supporter of many Motocross riders. 

Dave Leary Racing, Cyclespot Honda and Crown Kiwi Enterprises have joined forces and Hamish has a practice bike and a race bike - both the Honda CRF250R.

Cyclespot Honda is one of New Zealand’s most iconic motorcycle stores with a 'superstore' on Barry’s Point Road on the North Shore of Auckland. Cyclespot is the No.1 Honda Powerhouse dealer in the country.