COVID IMPACT ON SPORTS FELT FAR AND WIDE IN OUR MOTORCYCLING COMMUNITY

When the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic stifles a sporting occasion , its impact is felt well beyond the tight-knit sports community . This is particularly so in regards to such a popular annual event as the Honda-sponsored Whakatane Summercross . The effect the sudden and unexpected cancellation of this event had on the Bay of Plenty Motorcycle Club ( BOPMCC ) and , indeed , on the entire Kiwi motorcycling community will be talked about for years to come . Originally scheduled to run , as usual , on the last weekend of December , pandemic concerns forced this historic 50th running of the Whakatane Summercross in 2021 to be rescheduled for the following month , January 2022 . The host Bay of Plenty Motorcycle Club promised it would be worth the wait and their vast volunteer crews continued to push on with preparations . But then the New Zealand government imposed Red Traffic Light conditions on the country just a week before the rescheduled Summercross event , in a desperate bid to slow the advance of the virus , and the iconic bike event that had since been re-set for January 29 and 30 could now not go ahead at all . Well in excess of 500 competitors , plus thousands of spectators and support personnel – including administrators , medics , lap-scoring / time-keepers , track commentators , the media , food stall operators , maintenance workers such as tractor and digger drivers , and food stall and coffee cart operators – therefore had their plans for the long Auckland Anniversary Weekend tossed out the window . Motel and camping ground bookings were hurriedly cancelled and time off work and family holiday trips were abandoned . Immediately , we can see that for events such as this , made possible entirely by volunteer labour , donations , club fees and a handful of noble sponsors , it ’ s a massively disappointing waste of energy and resources , with no financial compensation on offer when things turn sour . Long-time motorcycling event commentator Neil Ritchie expressed his sadness that the Whakatane Summercross could not run this time around . “ The Whakatane Summercross is one of the longest-running major motocross events on the New Zealand calendar , ranking alongside the New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville ( which was also cancelled this year ),” he said . “ When we lose events such as these from the calendar , we lose history and we lose momentum , but hopefully not the passion . “ The character of the New Zealand motocross community is exemplified by the Bay of Plenty Motorcycle Club and I ’ m sure we will all bounce back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this event in the near future .” As usual , the Whakatane Summercross was to be run at the club ’ s popular Awakaponga circuit , near Matata , and again expected to attract a “ Who ’ s Who ” of Kiwi motocross talent . The event was again this year to act as a springboard for riders heading into the busy part of the season , culminating with the fourround New Zealand Motocross Championships in February and March , although that series was also last week cancelled by the sport ’ s governing body in New Zealand . The mums , dads and wider family groups that provide the strength and character to run such events will no doubt fight on and hopefully resurrect their marquee events such as Summercross in the coming years , but that does not lessen the sadness and hurt currently being felt . Andy McGechan