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New Zealand Open Motocross Champion, Featherston’s Corrie Sargent is back in New Zealand and feel the time has come for him to have his say, about the incidents which led to him leaving the German Phase Suzuki Team.
Early this year Sargent, with mechanic Derek Johnston, set off to take on the best in the world on the 250cc Motocross Grand Prix circuit with German based Phase Suzuki.
Sargent had a gentleman’s agreement with team owner Joerg Schaefer, to pay him NZ$2000 per month, if he qualified for the Grand Prix and should he be unable to achieve this, his pay would drop to NZ$1000 per month, and he would then campaign the European Championship.
Unfortunately Sargent was unable to adapt to the way qualifying is run for the World MX GPs and was unable to qualify for either of the first two GPs. When he approached the team management regarding local and European events, he was told that he was on his own. The team would supply the bikes but he would have to fund his own racing.
At the same time, Jochen Jasinski, team co-ordinator and former GP rider with 15 years experience was becoming dissatisfied with the team’s professionalism and decided to leave. Jasinski, who was owed monies by the team management, decided while the team was in Australia, to recover some parts in lieu of payment.
It is understood 8 or 9 other suppliers retrieved goods for non-payment.
We also understand that the goods were returned after payment was received.
Sargent categorically denies, taking anything belonging to Phase Suzuki, and is extremely upset his reputation is being called into question.
Sargent has been home for three weeks and has had no official contact from the team, but he is aware of malicious rumors circulating on the Internet.
