They could be called New Zealand's "secret army", a virtual platoon of motorcycle racers who, with very little fanfare, have left our shores to take on the world's elite.
When these riders headed overseas, they left with no trumpet blast and certainly they'll expect no tickertape parade when they return.
These are our modest sporting heroes, some of whom have become pin-up stars in European, Australian and American bike magazines and who are attracting the attention of high-profile race teams abroad.
They are each following the wheel-tracks of such pioneering Kiwis as Burt Munro (of The World's Fastest Indian fame), Hugh Anderson, Kim Newcombe, Graeme Crosby, Ginger Molloy, John Woodley, Stu Avant, Rod Coleman, Dennis Ireland, Keith Turner, Len Perry, Trevor Discombe, Geoff Perry, Aaron Slight, Andrew Stroud, Simon Crafar, John Hepburn, Jason McEwen, Rodger Freeth, Robert Holden, Shaun Harris, Tony Rees, Chris Haldane, Richard Scott, Wellington brothers Dave and Neville Hiscock, multi-time speedway world champion Ivan Mauger, Ronnie Moore and Barry Briggs, Taranaki brothers Shayne and Darryll King, Stefan Merriman, Katherine Prumm, Tony Cooksley, Josh Coppins, Darryl Hurley, and Taupo's Ben Townley, to name just a selection.
