Entries Open to Find the World’s Best Junior Motocross Riders

FUNCHAL (PORTUGAL), 7 April 2009 – The hunt is on to find the world’s best junior riders with entries opening for the 2009 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.

For the first time ever, the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship will leave European shores and it’s heading to the scenic location of Taupo, New Zealand on August 15-16, 2009.

The event host, the Taupo Motorcycle Club, is well-renowned for its ability to host international events and the sandy Digger McEwen Track promises to test the world’s leading junior riders.

“There is comprehensive information on our website www.taupomcc.co.nz  about travelling to and around New Zealand, bike leasing, accommodation and car rentals,” said Geoff Hall, President of the Taupo Motorcycle Club.

“In addition, the recent fall in the Kiwi dollar makes travel to New Zealand an enticing and affordable prospect for many international competitors, especially those from Australia and Asia for whom a Junior World Championship event has never been closer.”

Famous riders who have enjoyed busting out laps of the Digger McEwen Track, which hosted the final day of the 2006 ISDE event, include Stefan Everts, Joel Smets, Josh Coppins, Rui Goncalves, Billy McKenzie, Gareth Swanepoel, Matiss Karro and Ben Townley.

“The Taupo track is a world class facility, and one of my favourite places in the world to ride – I started riding there at the age of 6,” said Ben Townley who won the 2004 FIM MX2 World Championship, the 2007 AMA Supercross Lites East championship and twelve New Zealand titles.

“The soil is soft and sandy and the layout is flowing with some fun jumps to cap off an awesome track – in addition, the Taupo club runs events that rival any international event I’ve been to,” said Townley.

2008 Junior World Champion Matiss Karro raced at an international event at the track last year and he agrees.

“I really enjoyed my time in Taupo – the track is very interesting and different to other tracks I’ve ridden. I think it will challenge the riders’ abilities,” said 2008 Junior World Champion Matiss Karro who made the most of the adrenaline activities that Taupo has to offer by sky-diving, bungy jumping and jet-boating.

Competitors from all over the world will be wowed by the stunning scenery and the range of adrenaline activities on offer in this spectacular part of New Zealand, which is considered the ‘event capital’ of the country.

Information regarding accommodation, vehicle hire, worldwide transportation of motorcycles, and motorcycle lease/hire can be found on the Taupo Motorcycle Club website http://www.taupomcc.co.nz/juniorworldmx.html.

For further media information, please contact Clare Ponton on +64 (0) 21 228 3721 or +64 (07) 377 0721 or clare@cpcommunications.co.nz.