KEY POINTS:
It doesn't come much bigger than this.
The motocross eyes of the world will again focus on the Bay of Plenty region as Taupo draws a host of international superstars to its popular Swann International Motocross in November.
The sandy Digger McEwen Motocross Track in Miro St, Taupo, will be the venue for the Swann Insurance-sponsored event on the weekend of November 1-2.
It is the same venue that saw the world's elite enduro riders battle when the International Six Days Enduro was in the region in November 2006. This time, though, it's the cream of the motocross world who will descend on the popular central North Island geothermal resort town.
International Kiwi superstar Josh Coppins has promised to race at the event and, with the man from Motueka still in contention for this year's MX1 world championship motocross crown, he's a huge spectator drawcard.
But the momentum gathered as the club announced it had signed up a further three world motocross championship GP riders to attend the big event.
Scotland's Billy Mackenzie (Honda), American Mike Brown (Yamaha) and Portugal's Rui Goncalves (KTM) have now confirmed their appearance and other GP stars are in the pipeline as negotiations continue.
And it's a double whammy for the Taupo Motorcycle Club as it prepares to host another giant international motocross event less than 12 months later. In addition to November's big international spectacle, the Taupo club is also feverishly working towards hosting the Junior World Motocross Championships next August 15-16.
New Zealand junior riders are now preparing for selection with starting positions limited and only a select few to be granted the right to race at this most international of events.
"The Taupo Motorcycle Club has received great support from Destination Lake Taupo (DLT). The 2009 World Championship event is endorsed fully by local council and community groups," said Taupo Motorcycle Club president Geoff Hall.
A delegation from the club and representatives from Destination Lake Taupo, Venture Travel and the sport's governing body here, Motorcycling New Zealand, are soon heading off to this year's Junior World Motocross Championships, being held in the Netherlands.
It will give these Kiwi personnel plenty of chances to network and greet and meet the sport's movers and shakers in Europe. Taupo has long been a hub for many of New Zealand's top international sporting pursuits and this will be emphasised by the Kiwi delegation.
"We look forward to providing exceptional racing over the two days in November," said Hall.
