Motueka ’ s Josh Coppins ( who raced for New Zealand at the MXoN 14 times ; King ’ s own younger brother , 1996 500cc motocross world champion Shayne King ( who raced for NZ at the MXoN on 12 occasions ) and Opotiki ’ s Cody Cooper ( an 11-time NZ rep at the MXoN ). Significantly , one of Darryll King ’ s appearances at the MXoN even resulted in a third-place podium finish for Team New Zealand , when he teamed with Josh Coppins and Shayne King at Foxhills , in the United Kingdom , in 1998 . The now 55-year-old Darryll King won numerous New Zealand 85cc , 125cc , 250cc and 500cc motocross titles over his career – too many to list here – remarkably even starting the senior phase of his life by claiming a national crown when he won the senior New Zealand 125cc class title on debut in 1986 . He won that title ahead of visiting Australian James Deakin , Taupo ’ s John Penny , Palmerston North ’ s Leon Andrew and New Plymouth ’ s Mitch Rowe , a remarkable achievement considering the depth of talent .
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS But it was on the international front that King really hit his stride and he recalls winning “ five or six ” motocross GP events over his international career , which first began as a privateer in 1991 ( when he managed to finish 49th overall in the 250cc class ) and he then transitioned through into the professional and factory ranks shortly afterwards , culminating with his final fling in Europe in 2000 , when he made a brave comeback from a neck injury to wrap up the season finishing fifth overall in the 500cc class . “ It was certainly good to have an injury-free campaign that year ,” he laughed . His last four seasons in Europe were as a team rider for the Husqvarna factory . “ I have no regrets . I ’ m totally happy with it all . I worked on being the world champion but , I guess , it just wasn ’ t meant to be ,” he said . “ I won several GPs outright ... in Italy , Belgium , Switzerland , France and Austria and another one too somewhere I think ,” he said . “ In 1997 , my brother Shayne and I finished 1-2 at the French Grand Prix and that was pretty incredible . Our main rivals at that time , besides one another of course , were American Trampas Parker and Belgium ’ s Joel Smets .” Parker was the 125cc world champion in 1989
KIWI RIDER 69