Kiwi Festival off

The announcement that New Zealand will continue its tough Covid stance, including prohibiting international arrivals until at least April 2022, has forced the NZCMRR to cancel the 43rd Classic Festival at Pukekohe Raceway. This scuppers plans to send a shipment of bikes from Australia for the classic event. NZCMRR president Ken McGeady said that the requirement for everyone on site to be fully vaccinated meant that the club would have to police this at point of entry, which would place volunteer officials in a difficult, if not impossible position. A statement on the club’s website says,

“We have pencilled in another weekend – April 30/May 1 – at Pukekohe… and if circumstances permit we may be able to run a Festival over this weekend, with trophy races and all the trimmings”. However with the Australia/New Zealand border not due to open until April 30 at the earliest, no international riders will be able to compete. The focus now shifts to 2023 when the club hopes it will be able to reinstate the Festival on its traditional early February date, with overseas riders in addition to the country’s home stars. ■