He didn’t win on that occasion – his 650cc
adventure bike complete with headlight,
speedo, horn, blinkers and number plate
– the road-ready bike as much as 20-25
kilograms heavier than anything else
on the track. His brave efforts certainly
entertained the crowd.
Others to look for at Taupiri include
Bay of Plenty’s former motocross world
champion Ben Townley, Cambridge’s
multi-time former national motocross
champion Mike Cotter and Kiwi former
motocross Grand Prix campaigner Damien
King, also from Cambridge.
Riders such as Orewa’s Joseph Andrell,
New Plymouth’s David Furze, Rogotea’s
Zac Jillings, Tauranga’s Shelby Catley,
Oparau’s Hunter Scott, Ngatea’s former
national 125cc motocross champion
Ben Broad, Pokeno’s Luke Temple,
Taupo brothers Wyatt and Cohen Chase,
Hamilton’s Reef Wheki, Stratford brothers
Scott and Camo Keegan, Otorohanga’s
Shane Robinson, Patea’s Tyler Campbell
and Cambridge’s Jared Hannon, to name a
few, will also perhaps fancy their chances
of winning.
With racing for 10 separate championship
classes over the two days, as well as
support classes being run, the term “flat
track” may be a little misleading, with the
track expected to be rough and rutted by
late Sunday afternoon, when rider fitness
will play as much a part in the outcomes
as the bravery and skills any of the riders,
or even any horsepower advantage.
KTM
MOTOHALL
OPENS ITS
DOORS
While many a KTM fan has made the
pilgrimage to the brand’s home town of
Mattighofen in Austria, there hasn’t been
too much to see beyond the exterior of
the factory’s walls. That is about to change
with KTM opening the doors to its KTM
Motohall this month.
Opening in conjunction with a
programme of fringe events to support
the new facility, the KTM Motohall
functions primarily as an exhibition of all
things KTM as well as a brand experience.
All crammed into a massive 10,000 square
meter site.
The route guides visitors through the
three exhibition levels and showcases the
brand’s core values. Visitors are able to
witness the complete design process from
sketch to finished product firsthand with
videos illustrating all the technical details
of motorcycle manufacturing.
100 KIWI RIDER
During the realisation of this unique
visitor concept no stone has been left
unturned in allowing access, letting a
visit to the KTM Motohall be a rewarding
experience in every respect. Not only
is car and tour bus parking taken
into consideration, KTM has ensured
there is also a separate parking lot for
motorcyclists just over the road.
A highlight will surely be what KTM calls
the “living” workshop situated in the
basement of the KTM Motohall, where
visitors can watch live restorations of KTM
machinery being carried out by experts.
The KTM Motohall will be open from
Tuesday to Sunday with the cost of
entry varying depending on the level
of experience a visitor wants. This is
definitely a must-see next time you’re
swanning through Austria on a trans-
continental tour.