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SCHOOL PRIZEGIVING - MX STYLE:
by Andy McGechan
It was graduation day for all but a few of the nation’s top motocross riders in November, the final round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships signalling the end to another long, hard season of work.
Most riders scored points, many were paid, some earned media attention and almost everyone left the Harrisville circuit happy.
So, as the dust settles and the roar and crackle of the engines dies away for another season, it’s time for the faculty staff at Kiwi Rider University to make some special awards to the alumni for 2003.
Take it away professor Andy ....
The “Supermen” Trophies:
Well obviously, we can look no further than Shayne King, Darryll King and Mike Cotter, the only men who raced two classes and featured at or near the front throughout. Shayne King, in particular, should be commended. The starter at Pukekohe’s final round had to hold up the race so that Shayne could jump off his 500cc bike (which he’d just won on) and scoot down to the start line to join the 250cc race. He barely had time to catch his breath and yet he went out and won all three 250cc races anyway.
Special mention for Manawatu’s James Robinson who rode two classes (125 and 500) at rounds one and two, good enough for 30th overall in the 125cc class and 11th overall in the 500cc division.
Also Mason Phillips, who raced one round in the 125cc class (good for 25th overall in the series) and then decided to concentrate on just the 250cc class, and earned the No. 5 plate.
The Tourism Grant:
Scotsmen Barry Morris, John Morton and Neil Flockhart and Aussie Mick McDermid were welcome additions to the Kiwi action and, more often than not, gave a very good account of themselves. Just remember, the New Zealand terrain – baseball-sized rocks at Trentham, porridge-like mud at Huntly and baked hard-pack at Pukekohe -- is not something these gentlemen grew up on.
While Morris was the holeshot king and finished third overall in the 125cc class, Morton, Flockhart and McDermid only rode the final round but still managed 25th (500cc), 29th (500cc) and 17th (125cc) overall respectively.
The “Close But No Cigar” Certificate:
Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny deserves this one. We’ve lost count how many times this guy’s been so close to the top but never actually claimed the top trophy. That’s what you get for trying to have a career while the King brothers are around. Still, Penny’s No.2 plate is something to be proud of in the company of Kings. Speaking of Kings, Damien probably deserves a “Close But No Cigar” certificate too. He’s had a lifetime of being in the shadow of his elder brothers but at least he grabbed a bit of the spotlight by winning the final race of the series.
Corrie Sargent and Mike Cotter showed flashes of brilliance throughout the series too but, ultimately, had to settle back into the shadows cast by Darryll and Shayne.
The “Unsung Hero” Diploma:
So many people deserve one of these. Lets start with the event organisers – Ewen “Tommo” Thompson (Christchurch), Mike McLeod (Trentham), Bronwyn Slater (Huntly) and Sharon Smith (Pukekohe). We tip our hats to you. Likewise the lap-scorers and thank goodness for Tim Gibbes and his electronic transponders.
Commentator Neil “Turbo Tonsils” Ritchie continues to amaze with his encyclopaedic knowledge and ability to recall the smallest facts of interest about every passing rider (or journalist). The gate marshals deserve credit too.
Can you imagine being stuck out at the gate, hearing everybody’s tall story or sad excuse, putting up with torrents of abuse and, all the while, missing out on the fantastic race action that the airwaves carry teasingly to your ears.
The “Nice Gesture” Medal:
With Whangarei motocross great Jake Boyd laid low by cancer in recent months, his mates showed their support and love for the young man by carrying a little tribute sticker on their bikes. Stencilled in small print above the main number boards on several bikes was the “Jake Boyd #200” lettering, in reference to Boyd’s distinctive racing number.
The “Untapped Potential” Certificate:
We just know that Andrew Porter, Bradley Exton, Jaden Gray, Michael Phillips and Scott Columb are heading right for the top. Mark our words, these men will be regulars on the podium before too long.
The “Grey Power” Citation:
This award is shared by senior citizens Tony Cooksley, who is somewhere in his late 40s, and 44-year-old Bob McCleary. Both men continue to defy the odds to race this most demanding of sports at the ultimate level, by Kiwi standards anyway.
The “Brother In Arms” Trophy:
Well obviously there’s the King brothers, Darryll, Shane and Damien, but there’s a few more sibling rivalry showdowns going on besides those three famous blokes. Did you notice the Smith boys, Nigel and Damon? Despite fighting for different brands and the brothers contesting different classes, there were as close as close things in the pits. We even spied KTM man Damon giving a little mechanical assistance in the pits to Yamaha man Nigel.
Then there’s the fighting Fogartys from Gisborne. Brendon Fogarty was a no-show at Pukekohe after he injured himself leading up to the event but Shaun and Damien were still going hammer and tong as they scrapped over points inside the 250cc class top 10.
The “Watch This Space” Medallion:
Cody Cooper. Need we say more? If he’s not No 1 both sides of the Tasman next season, we’ll eat our collective hats. Is a GP ride or US contract beckoning?
The “AWOL (absent without leave)” award:
The New Zealand media gets this one but probably won’t turn up even to accept this award. We ran our eyes over the Dominion and NZ Herald papers for three consecutive days after the final round in Pukekohe and zip, zero, zilch for motocross coverage. Just a few results, top three only, in the scoreboard column.
On a weekend when the All Blacks embarrass themselves in Australia, our top Kiwi motocross racers are strutting their stuff near the country\'s biggest city ... and the media couldn\'t care less it seems. Seven pages (count them, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) were devoted in Monday’s NZ Herald to one 80-minute game of appalling rugby. Not a word on the MX nationals final round. Shame, shame, shame.
Just as well Kiwi Rider and Bike Mart were there in force.
Cheers
Andy.
