HUGH ANDERSON TO BE NZ ’ S FIRST ‘ MOTOGP LEGEND ’

He ’ s already a legend to us here in New Zealand and in many other parts of the world too , but Hamilton ’ s Hugh Anderson is set this year to officially become the world ’ s first Kiwi ‘ MotoGP Legend ’. A four-time world road-racing champion and a New Zealand road-racing and motocross champion too , the now 86-year-old , originally from Huntly , is to be lauded as a MotoGP Legend . Fellow former MotoGP stars Jorge Lorenzo , from Spain , and Italian Max Biaggi have also been confirmed as inductees into the MotoGP Hall of Fame this season . Five-time world champion Lorenzo and fourtime world champion Biaggi had been set to be inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic – the Spaniard in Jerez , the Italian in Mugello – and the New Zealander was set to be inducted later in the season , but it was decided to delay the ceremonies . As restrictions ease in many places , a new date has now been set for each ceremony . As originally planned , Lorenzo will be inducted at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on April 29 , with Biaggi up next at the Autodromo del Mugello on May 27 . New Zealand ’ s Anderson is set to be inducted at the 2022 Australian GP at Phillip Island , the 19th round of 21 in this MotoGP season , on October 14 . Anderson was naturally delighted with the news . “ I was in correspondence with all these people before the Covid thing turned up and there had been emails floating about , but I hadn ’ t been told [ I was to be inducted ],” Anderson said . “ My sole pleasure and reward [ in racing ] was just from the enjoyment of riding a motorcycle . The money and trophies turned up and I thought that was good , but it was the extreme pleasure of winning these races , and being able to ride at the level required to beat the best in the world , that I got the most satisfaction from . That ’ s where I got my kicks , because you were on the edge the whole time . “ I thought and schemed on how I could improve this or that and ride better , and it all worked out pretty well ,” he said modestly . “ I ’ m certainly looking forward to my trip to Australia . I had been teetotal for a long time in my career , although in later years I did enjoy the odd drink , but it ’ s a nuisance now that I can ’ t drink alcohol . I can ’ t touch the stuff . It would have been nice to have a few beers ,” he chuckled . In addition to his four world titles – winning two in 1963 and one each in 1964 and 1965 – Anderson was also a 19-time New Zealand champion . He is also a two-time Isle of Man TT winner . Growing up in Huntly , Anderson played rugby league for Huntly United , alongside fellow future motorcycle champion Ginger Molloy , and he first rode a motorcycle on his mother ’ s farm when he was aged nine . At the age of 17 he rode in his first dirt bike event on a self-made machine . He was soon winning races with the same determination that was later to take him to many international victories and , by 20 years of age , he was doing the same with road bikes on the tarmac . He joined the Suzuki factory team in 1961 , racing the factory ’ s 50cc and 125cc bikes and occasionally he competed in 250cc races for them . During his stint with the factory team , Anderson was double world champion ( 50cc and 125cc ) in 1963 and retained his 50cc world title the following year . In 1965 , he was crowned 125cc world champion . Anderson was believed also to be instrumental in helping Polish-born German rider Ernst Degner win the 50cc world title for Suzuki in 1962 . Anderson ’ s last race for the Suzuki factory