Aussies heading to Vets MX of Nations
August 17, 2010
Big Honda Rider Brad Van Barello will be one of the four Australians taking on the Veterans Motocross of Nations even in 2010
Australia and MA will be represented in the Veterans Motocross of Nations event being held at the iconic circuit of Farleigh Castle in England on 18/19 September.
The Australian team to compete in the MXdN event consists of Brad Van Barrelo, John Kittle and Russell Williamson out of Queensland and Chris Hall from South Australia. The draw-card event will be run over four motos of 20 minutes + 1 lap on twin-shock machines over the two days of racing.
The four riders will be pitted against some big names including ex-World Champions Eric Geboers, Graham Noyce, Neil Hudson, David Thorpe, Shayne King and David Knight (of Enduro fame).
In excess of 10 other riders (De Witt, Karsmakers, Anderson, Prince, Wheeler, Herring, Schmitz, Mathia, Hanson, House, Pratley etc) have GP experience behind them to add to the competitive level of the event.
It is rumoured that Josh Coppins will be riding, and Chris Walker is taking a break from road racing to compete.
Australia’s Jeff Liesk will be racing as well as getting back together with Geboers and Thorpe for some demonstration laps on a replica works Honda CR500 machine, reliving the days when the three were team mates but highly competitive against each other at tracks such as Farleigh Castle.
The Australian riders have sourced the twin-shock machines in England and have been pleased with the support of the local riders.
The bikes used in the event are predominantly from the early 80’s era, and are regularly used in the very popular British Twin-Shock MX Championships.
Event organiser, Dave King, expects the Vets MXoN to be the major Motocross event on the British calendar behind the Maxxis British MX Championship events for 2010.
With 11 teams from around the world competing, the event is assured of international attention.
Farleigh Castle is to Motocross as Monaco is to Formula 1, and many a round of the 500cc World Championship was held at the circuit during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s before it was closed and returned to farming.
Two MXoN events were held at the circuit which is laid out over natural terrain and includes some steep uphill and downhill challenging sections, following the same course as that used for the 500 GP’s through the 80’s.
“The track looks fantastic and I can’t wait to tackle the uphill and downhill steps” said Van Barrelo when shown photographs of the circuit.
All four riders are gathering as much information as possible about the circuit to ready themselves for the challenge, mindful that riders from last year’s highly successful event will have some track knowledge and the English riders will have studied the new layout first hand this year.
Williamson was not as enthusiastic about the infamous steps, remarking that Van Barrello and Kittle were mere youngsters compared to himself and Hall.
“Being in our 50’s, we are going to have our work cut-out for us against the so-called veterans who are 35 - 40 years old.
"Fortunately, each team must have at least three riders over 40 years old, but Hall thinks that should be over 55 years old so that he doesn’t feel left out!” remarked Williamson.
John Kittle was very pleased with the support offered by Motorcycling Australia, and noted “There is an enormous amount of interest in veterans racing and evo and Vintage Motocross world-wide, and the event at Farleigh will bring that all together.
"We are proud to be representing MA and hope that our efforts to compete at the event will attract the international fraternity to compete in events down here such as the Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza”.
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