MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS
The conditions were tough, but New Zealand’s “development squad”
battled through and rose above them in The Netherlands.
T
he three-rider squad representing
New Zealand at the 2019 Motocross
of Nations at Assen fought bravely to
earn another top 20 finish at this big annual
“Olympic Games of Motocross”.
It was a completely fresh trio of Kiwis
selected to race at Assen’s Cathedral of
Speed TT circuit at the weekend after all
three individuals who represented New
Zealand last year, when the MXoN was staged
in the United States, had been ruled out for
2019 either because of injury or for personal
reasons.
But Taupo’s Wyatt Chase (Honda),
Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis (Yamaha) and
Christchurch’s Dylan Walsh (Husqvarna)
stepped into the breach to each make their
respective MXoN debuts at this season’s 73rd
annual edition of the event.
New Plymouth’s former motocross world
champion Shayne King and Rotorua-based
former top national-level racer Darryn
Henderson shared the managerial duties
and it was their experience and assistance,
along with the sponsorship support from
Penny Homes, Best Build Construction,
plus the massive fundraiser undertaken by
the Taupo Motorcycle club that supported
Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) to allow the
Kiwi campaign to succeed.
Team New Zealand qualified 17th on
Saturday and this gave them direct entry to
Sunday’s main event.
However, a mechanical issue struck Walsh in
KIWI RIDER 109