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File photo - Stefan Merriman
In the space of just one week New Zealand has provided yet another motorcycle sport winner on the world stage.
On Saturday, September 11, Taupo born, 19 year old, Ben Townley won the 2004 MX2 World championship title at Ballykelly, Northern Ireland .
On Saturday, September 18, Tauranga born, 31 year old Stefan Merriman not only won his Enduro 1 class at the 79th International Six Days Enduro: in Kielce/Miedziana Góra, Poland, but also the major reward - the highly sought and most prestigious outright win.
The entry list of 417 riders drawn from around the globe makes the ISDE the veritable Olympic games of motorcycling. Six days of physical and mental pressure required the UFO Corse Yamaha rider to draw on the diverse motorcycling skills that he began to develop when just a boy. At age 11 the young Merriman was introduced to Trials. His first bike was the ubiquitous Yamaha TY 80 and later that was replaced with a Fantic 80 (from Ray Skinner). At age 15 he won the 'World Junior Trials Champion' title and his subsequent experience in the disciplines of motorcycle sport include road racing, moto cross, super cross, trials and super moto. He achieved considerable success in all those fields, as a perusal of his 'career highlights' will indicate and that has made him the multi-skilled rider that he is now. In fact the New Zealand born Merriman is presently - 'the man to beat' on the World Enduro circuit. Meticulous in his preparation, focussed and determined it will not surprise if Merriman goes on to even greater success and fame in the future. It is a long way from - the boy who practised Trials riding after school on the Tauranga family property.
Merriman was required to move to Australia to further his career in the mid-nineties and is now regarded by Australians as an Australian (and why wouldn't they). He is sponsored by the governing motorcycle sports body, Motorcycling Australia and he formed part of the six man Australian World Trophy team that finished 6th in Poland.
As befitting the consummate professional that he is, Stefan has a well maintained Website:
Stefan's Profile
Date of Birth 24th March 1973
Place of Birth Tauranga, NEW ZEALAND
Residence London, UK
Height 165cm
Weight 70Kg
Cross Training Mountain-biking, Trials riding, Gym, Cycling
Other Sports Swimming, Squash, Skiing
Favorite Food/Drink Fresh Pasta, Mineral Water
Favorite Motocross Track Bellinzago, ITALY
Favorite Enduro Training Area Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Best race World Enduro Championship round in Rodengo Saino, ITALY
(That may now be the International Six Days Enduro in Kielce/Miedziana Góra, Poland)
Career Highlights
Year Place Event Class 2003 1st FIM World Enduro Championships 250cc 2 Stroke 1st Italian Enduro Championships Overall Classification 1st Extreme Lumezzane, Brescia ITALY Overall Classification 1st International Six Day Enduro, Forteleza BRAZIL 250cc 2 Stroke 1st International Indoor Enduro, Barcelona, SPAIN 2 Stroke 2nd International Six Day Enduro, Forteleza BRAZIL Overall Classification 2nd FIM World Enduro Championships Overall Classification 2002 1st International Six Day Enduro, Jablonec nad Nisou 125cc 2 Stroke 2nd FIM World Enduro Championships 400cc 4 Stroke 3rd FIM World Enduro Championships Overall Classification 3rd Italian Enduro Championships Overall Classification 2001 1st FIM World Enduro Championships 400cc 4 Stroke 1st Italian Enduro Championships Outright 1st Australian Four Day Enduro, Operau NEW ZEALAND Outright/400cc 4 Stroke 2000 1st FIM World Enduro Championships 400cc 4 Stroke 1st International Six Day Enduro, Granada SPAIN Outright/400cc 4 Stroke 1st Italian Enduro Championships Outright 1st Australian Four Day Enduro, Bairnsdale AUSTRALIA Outright/250cc 2 Stroke 1st Final round of German Enduro Championships, Zschopau GERMANY Outright/400cc 4 Stroke 2nd Indoor Enduro, Barcelona SPAIN Outright 1999 2nd FIM World Enduro Championships 250cc 2 Stroke 3rd Italian Enduro Championships Outright 1998 4th FIM World Enduro Championships 250cc 2 Stroke 3rd International Six Day Enduro, Traralgon AUSTRALIA 250cc 2 Stroke 1st Australian Four Day Enduro, AUSTRALIA Outright/250cc 2 Stroke 1997 6th International Six Day Enduro, Brescia ITALY 250cc 2 Stroke 1996 1st Australian Enduro Championships 250cc 2 Stroke 1995 1st Australian Trials Championships 1st New Zealand Supersport Championship 2nd New Zealand Formula 2 Championship 1994 2nd Australian Trials Championships 1993 1st Australian Trials Championships 1st New Zealand Trials Championships 1st New Zealand Supercross Championships Expert Class 1st Triple Challenge Supermotard Race 1992 3rd Scottish Six Day Trial 1991 4th British Trials Championship Series 6th Scottish Six Day Trial 1990 10th Scottish Six Day Trial 1989 1st World Junior Trials Championship 1st Australian Trials Championship 1st New Zealand Trials Championship
