Woodville GP Goes to the Next Level with FIM Oceania Status
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New Zealand’s biggest Motocross event, the 2018 Honda New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville will have a new Australian flavour, with the race on January 27-28 being awarded FIM Oceania status.
This will be the first time in the event’s illustrious 57-year history that it has been awarded FIM Oceania status, and the host club, Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club's Secretary, Anna Cvitanovich is thrilled with the new challenge being incorporated.
“We are really excited to have FIM Oceania status, as it adds another dimension to the weekend’s racing,” according to Cvitanovich. “We are absolutely stoked with the news, and we can only see this helping improve and grow the event which is good for the sport in New Zealand and Australia. The status really helps to provide a new interesting dynamic and builds healthy competition between the two nations!”
The spectacular two-day event has always attracted international interest, but the 2018 New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville, in just under a month’s time, will be further enhanced with an FIM Oceania element added to the weekend's race programme.
The FIM Oceania Challenge will include competition for both Junior and Senior riders, with many of Australia's finest booked to arrive and all of them keen to take on their Kiwi counterparts.
“The event has always had a handful of the top Aussies who come over and do the NZ MX Championship, and in 2017 we had a huge contingent of Junior riders come and compete. The club couldn’t have been happier about that,” continued Cvitanovich.
“We expect around 6,000 to 7,000 fans to visit the track over the weekend, with Sunday's crowd expected to be around the 5,000 mark. There’s always a great family atmosphere and this year’s event could be the best yet. We want nothing more than to entertain the crowd and the FIM Oceania Challenge is something they can really get behind.” concluded Cvitanovich.
President of FIM Oceania, Glen Williams, who is also the president of FIM Oceania, said he was thrilled to reveal this latest development.
"FIM Oceania is looking to grow its profile across our sport," said Williams.
"FIM Oceania is pleased to be supporting the Woodville event. A healthy sporting rivalry between Australia and New Zealand has always existed and FIM Oceania is happy to keep that going in motocross too. It helps build the relationship between the two countries," Williams concluded.
Competitor Information Australian Junior competitors will receive a travel rebate and refund on their entry fee. Also the club is willing to provide free pit allocation.
Any Australian rider looking to enter or receive further information on travel rebate should contact Anna Cvitanovich for further information on akvcvit@xtra.co.nz.
To make the trip over the ditch even better, Round One of the New Zealand Senior MX Championship is scheduled for the following weekend. Any visiting rider over 15 years of age is eligible to enter, MX1, MX2 and Senior 125 class's of the New Zealand Senior MX Championships.