Get your motor running for grand prix

Iconic motocross event to thrill fans at Woodville

Eager anticipation for the 60th edition of the famous New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville is starting to build, with the iconic annual twoday event set for the weekend of January 30-31. This time around it will have double significance, day two also being recognised as the opening round of the 2021 New Zealand Motocross Championships.

It’s the first time the Hondasponsored Woodville event — the largest stand-alone event on the New Zealand race calendar, and this year celebrating its 60th anniversary — has been afforded this honour and certainly appropriate when considering that this event already enjoys the status as the premier motocross event in this part of the world.

Host Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club president Brad Ritchie said he was thrilled the club had been granted hosting rights to the nationals.

“We are excited to be running round one of the senior motocross championships at Woodville in January, an event that also incorporates the Women’s Cup,” he said.

“The club is looking forward to hosting a truly world class motorcycle event and I am sure motorcycle fans will be hungry for Woodville, especially considering the year we have had with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The event will be touching on the rich history of the event over the weekend, with memorabilia on display and an historical flair woven into the event.

“The New Zealand Motocross GP at Woodville could not happen without the amazing support from volunteers who put hours of their time into transforming a block of farmland into a world-class motocross venue.

“We would also like to thank our principal sponsor Honda and all our other sponsors, too.”

He said the 60th International Woodville MXGP would be livestreamed on the Sky Sport Next programme, which will also be a first for the event, allowing bike fans from across the country and around the world to watch the event live.

The race programme will be bulging with the names of top-grade entrants from as young as four years old, to senior men and women in their 40s and 50s.

The event will be touching on the rich history of the event over the weekend, with memorabilia on display and an historical flair woven into the event. Brad Ritchie

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Pre-sale tickets are available via the events website at www.woodvillemx.com. Onthe-day gate sales are also available, cash or eftpos. Follow all the action via Facebook and Instagram.

Number 1 Arthur Harris — an Englishman who came over for an early NZ Motocross GP. The number 5 rider is Ken Cleghorn. Ken was a founder of the events and played a big part in the early days of running Woodville. Ken is also a former New Zealand scrambles champion.

Back in the day — in the dust in the background between the two riders is local Palmerston rider Alan Collison, who was a very good rider of that era.

Photo / Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com First-turn action like this is sure to have race fans on their feet at Woodville in 2021.