QUEENSTOWN CONNECTION FOR 2010 ISDE TEAM

National motorcycling team roars into Queenstown ahead of ISDE

Blazing a trail to Mexico for the ‘Olympics of motorcycling’ is New Zealand’s Wellard Yamaha Endurance Motorcycling team - but first they’re set to unveil their 2010 jersey at the team’s official launch, (October 1) hosted at Queenstown Motorcycles in Glenda Drive, Queenstown.

Elite Kiwi riders, Rory Mead, Adrian Smith and Adam Reeves have been selected to represent New Zealand at the annual International Six Day Enduro (ISDE,) an extreme motorcycling event held near the city of Morelia in Mexico later this year (November 1-6).

Queenstown Motorcycles General Manager Duncan Smith said he was stoked to host the motorcyclists for a celebratory send off.

“The ISDE is regarded as the toughest off-road motorcycle event in the world and New Zealand riders are highly regarded, often taking podium spots, it’s fantastic to host the team launch in Queenstown,” he said.
Known as the ‘Wellard Club Team,’ the Kiwis are supported by Yamaha New Zealand and Wellard Group Holdings Pty – headed by Managing Director and former enduro rider Mauro Balzarini. Mauro, a part time Queenstown resident, became involved in enduro motorcycle racing 25 years ago, has won victory at the Italian Championships and completed his fifth ISDE in New Zealand in 2006.
“Mauro is a passionate supporter of enduro motorcycle racing. He has supported enduro teams in Western Australia and has provided the funding to set up and support a New Zealand team, paving the way for these young stars of the sport,” said Mr Smith.
Rory Mead of Whitby is the former National Enduro champion, Adrian Smith of Mokau, the National under-200cc Enduro champion and former National Cross-country champion, while Adam Reeves is Pahiatua’s two-time and reigning National Cross-country champion. A fourth rider, Auckland’s Karl Power, will be on standby as a reserve rider.

Rory, Adrian and Adam each competed at the Yamaha Top Trail Rider Enduro Series in Tokoroa this month ahead of the ISDE with the Yamaha team taking the top three podium spots (Rory 1st, Adam 2nd and Adrian in 3rd).

The ISDE is the oldest off-road motorcycle event of the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme. The very first event was held in Carlisle, England in 1913. The event attracts more than 500 riders from 32 national teams, testing both the rider and machine. Over the six days and upwards of 1250 miles riders must contend with strict time allowance rules and restrictions on mechanical replacements, carrying out their own track-side repairs.

About Queenstown Motorcycles
Owned by Duncan Smith, well known around Queenstown as ‘the Snowman’ for his years establishing and developing snowmaking systems at Coronet Peak and as former CEO of nzski, Queenstown Motorcycles is the regional hub of motorcycling. 850cc Café is located within the store providing a relaxed place for people who are passionate about bikes to gather, enjoy superb coffee and food in a stylish, yet rustic environment while they wait for a bike to be serviced or browse the motorbikes and accessories on offer.

Further information:
Duncan Smith, General Manager, Queenstown Motorcycles Ltd
P: +64 3 441 3999, M: +64 274 321 928, E: duncan@qmotor.co.nz

Read more...

FREESTYLER’S SET FOR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE

It’s back again! FMX Battle is returning to Wanganui this summer with even more action and a tougher line-up of competitors. FMX Battle is New Zealand’s only annual Freestyle MotoX competition, and has a head-to-head competition style making it fast paced and spectator friendly. The event made its debut last December, in conjunction with Race Week, and proved to be a great night out for all ages.

Levi "Rubberkid" Sherwood

With rivals from over the ditch returning again this year, the competition is guaranteed to be worth watching. Red Bull X-Fighters winner, Levi Sherwood, has confirmed his participation at the event making it his first performance back in New Zealand after his current leg injury. Sherwood (18yrs) took out the victory at X-Fighters in Moscow and London this year, and also earned himself a silver medal at X-Games for Freestyle MotoX. Other confirmed New Zealand & Australian riders are due to be released next month so keep your eyes peeled for more details.

The brain behind the operation is ‘Scary’ Mary Perkins who runs Encounter FMX, New Zealand’s premier FMX team. Perkins will be putting $10,000 prize money on the line for Australasia’s most impressive and consistent rider.

Sherwood constantly pushing the boundaries of extension

‘Scary’ Mary and her team are running the competition in a similar format to the popular RedBull X-Fighters tour and as Red Bull has already signed on as the event’s major sponsor, plans are well underway. Additional sponsors include Wanganui District Council and Smith Optics.

So mark your calendars for Tuesday 28th December and get along to the Cooks Gardens in Wanganui to see all the action FMX Battle will have to offer - sure to be a great night for all! For more information check out fmxbattle.co.nz.

Posted By: OllieS
Photo credits: Red Bull

Read more...

OSSA AT THE TRIAL des NATIONS

Here is a press release from OSSA. If you have followed KR over the last couple of months you may remember me reporting on the development of a new OSSA fuel injected 2-stroke 280cc trails bike code named the TR280i.

OSSA can best be described as a couture Spanish motorcycle company with a deep heritage in motorcycles that is heavily centered around the trials genre.

If we’re lucky we might even see one of these magnificent trials machines make it downunder!

16th September 2010 - THE NEW OSSA TR280i was one of the surprises at the Trial des Nations held this weekend in Myslenice, Poland.

The OSSA technical and design-team, as well as the General Manager of OSSA Factory SL, Joan Gurt, accompanied by an engineer from the Japanese company Kokusan Denki, presented two units of the TR280i.


Driven by it’s motorcycle tester Marc Colomer, the assisting public could appreciate the good return and the lightness of the motorcycle that is about to enter into the market.

Meeting with FIM
The OSSA management and responsible of the FIM seized the opportunity to meet. The International Motorcycle Federation showed it’s excitement regarding OSSA’s participation in the World Championship. Ossa from her side presented the team and the motorcycle that will compete next year. One of the key issues discussed during the meeting is the regulation about the weight for competition motorcycles as the TR280i’s weight is below the regulatory rules.


Welcome
Apart from seeing how the TR280i rolls, the OSSA presence at the competition generated a great welcome amongst the fans from all over the world who visited the OSSA-paddock with the OSSA trailer and the 2 exhibited motorcycles.

The OSSA TR280i is starting production in Girona. The first 1250 units are expected to be distributed internationally from October on.

More information on the OSSA TR280i can be found here


Posted By: OS
Source: OSSA

Read more...

SH1 AKL CLOSURES - SEPT 4

The Southbound lanes of the Southern Motorway (SH1) will be closed for a maximum of 36 hours from 5pm Saturday September 4 between Gillies Ave and Greenlane. The closure will enable the switch to the new southbound Newmarket Viaduct in time for the Monday morning commute.

Avoid the Southern Motorway (SH1) if you're planning to travel anywhere around Auckland on Saturday night or Sunday. The closure will cause significant delays throughout Auckland's road network.

You can help yourself and others beat the frustrations that this may cause by only travelling by car if really necessary.
Should you need to travel by car, please consult the detour maps by clicking on the map or this link. These detours will provide you with the best travel option to key destination points, however delays are inevitable.

Either switch your mode of transport, or keep it very local this Father's Day.

This single weekend closure and opening of the new bridge will allow us to open the fourth southbound motorway lane from the city to Greenlane by early 2011, reducing journey times and peak hour frustrations for regular commuters, and providing an improved driving experience for all Aucklanders.
We encourage you to forward this email or mention the closure to friends, staff, colleagues and customers. The more people who are aware of the closure and its potential impacts, the easier it will be for everyone.
Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Tommy Parker
NZTA State Highways Manager, Auckland and Northland

Read more...

WHITE RIBBON RIDE SET TO RUMBLE

Ric Odom and his Goldwing

The White Ribbon Ride in November will visit more than 40 towns in the North Island on a road trip to help end violence towards women.

The motorcycle ride, organised by the Families Commission as part of the White Ribbon campaign, will start in Tauranga and travel south through the centre of the North Island to Wellington and then north via eastern and western routes to Auckland and Bream Bay, visiting some 40 local communities.

“I’m delighted that the ride is being supported by motorcycle enthusiasts,” says Rob McCann who coordinates the White Ribbon Campaign for the Families Commission. “The inaugural ride in 2009 was fantastic and the riders were met with enthusiasm, and a few too many sausages, whereever they went. I’m sure that the positive experience from 2009 is why we have so many riders asking for ‘ride 10’ details.

“During the last few years New Zealand has seen a growing intolerance of violence and this has been reinforced by the ‘It’s Not OK’ and White Ribbon campaigns. This rejection of family violence, and specifically violence against women, has led to increased reporting and is also reflected by the increasing number of communities taking part in White Ribbon Day activities,” says Mr McCann.

“I was recently asked why White Ribbon Day was a call to men? The answer is simple. Men want to be part of the solution. This is an opportunity to show leadership and create role models for the next generation, and in doing so, break the cycle of violence.”

By offering an activity that speaks to other men, the ride can engage with communities in a way that is exciting and creates attention.

Ric Odom, owner of a Honda Gold Wing, National CEO for the YMCA and a member of the White Ribbon organising committee, participated in the White Ribbon Ride last year and encouraged some of his YMCA colleagues to join him. He says, “I had a great experience last year. Not only did I get to ride my bike for more than 800 kilometres, I had a real feeling that we contributed to making New Zealand a better place. At each location we were met by communities that were excited that men were making a stand against violence.

“Powerful bikes equal a powerful message, but we need riders to join us and show that men do care about our communities, our homes and our families. All violence is unacceptable. The ride is the perfect opportunity to show we’re against violence towards women.”

For further information about the White Ribbon Ride visit http://www.whiteribbon.org.nz/

Key Messages:
No violence within families is tolerable. If someone within the family is being frightened or intimidated by the behaviour of someone else, it is not OK. Violence isn’t just the physical, it’s also emotional or verbal behaviour used to control someone through fear. Things we say, or don’t say, contribute to the abuse.
White Ribbon Day is the international day when people, particularly men, wear a white ribbon to show they won’t tolerate, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
It originated as a men’s movement in Canada and is now part of the United Nations annual calendar (International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women). The Families Commission took a leadership role in New Zealand in 2006.
Whether you are a father, brother, uncle, granddad or cousin – we all want to keep our families safe. We all want our children to grow up and have happy healthy relationships.
By simply wearing a white ribbon you can make it clear to other men that you do not tolerate violence against women.
You can also make sure your home, your business or your sports club is a safe environment where abusive behaviour is not tolerated.
The White Ribbon Day campaign encourages men to talk openly about family violence, to support men who want to change their abusive behaviour and to challenge comments, statements and actions by men that are abusive.

Statistics in New Zealand
In New Zealand most violence towards women takes place in the home.
In violence between couples, it is men’s violence that is most likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm.
An average of 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex partners.
There are over 3500 convictions recorded against men each year for assaults on women.
One in three women will experience partner violence at some point in their lives.

The Families Commission and White Ribbon Committee works with multiple agencies and NGOs to coordinate the national campaign. The White Ribbon campaign complements but is separate to the family violence It’s Not OK campaign.

The White Ribbon Ride
The White Ribbon Ride is now into its second year. The structure of the ride is significantly different to that of 2009, with one ride travelling south on State Highway One and then two rides travelling north via eastern and western routes. The ride is led by the Super Maori Fullas (Mervyn, Roger and Mahu Rawiri) and the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club whose members are former or serving members of the armed forces or police.
For further information about the ride visit www.whiteribbon.org.nz

Rules include:
No alcohol or drugs are permitted on the ride
No patches
Must have motorcycle of 250cc or greater
Must agree to the pledge that ‘Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women’

The Pledge
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

Read more...

SEAN CLARKE GUIDED TRAILRIDES ANNOUNCED

Here's a release that we fully support:

Hi Everyone,
I am running a series of Guided Trailrides for the second half of 2010.
The rides will start at Tar Hill and travel cross country to Whakamaru and return.
Up to 150ks per day with hardly doing the same track twice.
The ride will follow trails that were used for the ISDE and Trailride tracks in the area and will be suitable for Intermediate to Expert level riders. (Sorry, No Novice Riders.)
Each ride will be limited to 25 riders per day.

Dates;

• 24th July
• 28th August
• 25th September
• 30st October
• 27th November

Start Time 9.30 on the bikes and finish between 3 and 4pm.
Cost $100 per day per rider.
Lunch and transport of fuel will be supplied.
Riders must bring and full tank of gas and a spare 15 litres.
This ride is really great fun with great views and awesome tracks that are in the area. Each ride will vary as different tracks are reopened.
Most of the tracks are single trail in the trees with a few firebreaks and roads in between to link it all up.
I have been running Guided rides for private groups for a long time now, so I think it is time to give the opportunity to others to have a go.
The maximum amount of riders has been set at 25 so the ride can keep moving along. We have to regroup every now and then but stops are kept to a minimum.
So if your keen to have a go email me at foresttrailevents@xtra.co.nz  and I will confirm your entry and send you payment details.

Cheers
Sean.

Read more...

HYOSUNG ST7 LAUNCHED

By Big Dave
The Ed sent me along to take some pics of the new Hyo launch at the Takapuna showrooms and I recorded some of the speeches on the Nikon. We'll have the report and a run down on the bike in the next KR.



Photo set. Todd the ham!

Read more...

HYOSUNG ST7 LAUNCHED

By Big Dave
The Ed sent me along to take some pics of the new Hyo launch at the Takapuna showrooms and I recorded some of the speeches on the Nikon. We'll have the report and a run down on the bike in the next KR.



Photo set. Todd the ham!

Read more...

TRAPPED BRASS MONKEY MOTORCYCLISTS RESCUED

NZ Herald Reports:

More than two dozen motorcyclists had to be rescued from deep snow as they made their way to a rally in Central Otago over a closed road overnight.
Police were left "shaking their heads in disbelief" after having to rescue the group which ignored road closed signs on the Danseys Pass Road, said Sergeant Ian Kerrisk of Alexandra police.

The full story is here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10650166

Was it someone you know? Was it you?
Tell us your side of the story or make a comment here.

Read more...

TRAPPED BRASS MONKEY MOTORCYCLISTS RESCUED

NZ Herald Reports:

More than two dozen motorcyclists had to be rescued from deep snow as they made their way to a rally in Central Otago over a closed road overnight.
Police were left "shaking their heads in disbelief" after having to rescue the group which ignored road closed signs on the Danseys Pass Road, said Sergeant Ian Kerrisk of Alexandra police.

The full story is here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10650166

Was it someone you know? Was it you?
Tell us your side of the story or make a comment here.

Read more...

NEW HYOSUNG DEALER

AUCKLAND’s North Shore has a new Hyosung dealer. Determined to give the brand a higher profile, importer Hyosung New Zealand has opened its own retail store at 72 Barry’s Point Road, Takapuna.

“We just were not getting the profile the brand deserves,” says Hyosung New Zealand Managing Director Ken Dobson. “The Hyosung range was simply not well enough represented in Auckland. So we decided to set up our own showcase of all the Hyosung models available, from the SF50 Rally scooter all the way through to the GV650 Cruiser. Come into our shop and you can see the entire Hyosung range.”

The new Hyosung outlet is certainly in a great location: right beside the Cycle Treads outlet in Barry’s Point Road.

As well as the complete range of Hyosungs, the new store also stocks the full range of Hyosung accessories and as the premises doubles as the headquarters for the importing company, there’s a full range of spare parts available too.

You can contact Hyosung Motorcycles on 09 486-2873. Look for their website coming soon. www.hyosungmotorcycles.co.nz

Read more...

NEW HYOSUNG DEALER

AUCKLAND’s North Shore has a new Hyosung dealer. Determined to give the brand a higher profile, importer Hyosung New Zealand has opened its own retail store at 72 Barry’s Point Road, Takapuna.

“We just were not getting the profile the brand deserves,” says Hyosung New Zealand Managing Director Ken Dobson. “The Hyosung range was simply not well enough represented in Auckland. So we decided to set up our own showcase of all the Hyosung models available, from the SF50 Rally scooter all the way through to the GV650 Cruiser. Come into our shop and you can see the entire Hyosung range.”

The new Hyosung outlet is certainly in a great location: right beside the Cycle Treads outlet in Barry’s Point Road.

As well as the complete range of Hyosungs, the new store also stocks the full range of Hyosung accessories and as the premises doubles as the headquarters for the importing company, there’s a full range of spare parts available too.

You can contact Hyosung Motorcycles on 09 486-2873. Look for their website coming soon. www.hyosungmotorcycles.co.nz

Read more...