2009 is here and rolling, last year felt like it went by so fast and here we are starting another one already! Hopefully everyone managed to have at least a short break before heading back to work and are gearing up for another big season of racing. Although it is a little quiet at this time of year there is still plenty happening behind the scenes here so heaps to talk about, including some information on the World Junior Championships to be held in New Zealand next year and some upcoming events. Like usual, read on and enjoy.

Victorian Institute of Motocross

The 2009 VIM group had an excellent on track session at Broadford early in December, with a perfectly prepared track and the Broadford crew also keeping it watered all day for us. We were also lucky enough to be utilised in some testing with the addition of mulch to a few sections of the track which can be seen in the above picture, made for a really good day with some hard pack and soft turns to work with, all the riders went really well and we now have a solid base to continue working with in to the future, with our next session at Albury/Wodonga on the Australia Day Sunday and Monday this month, followed by another day at Skilled Stadium on Sunday February 8th.

Coaching Schools

Just the one school coming up this month at Albury/Wodonga on the Australia Day weekend Saturday 24th January with positions available so let me know if you are interested. The track has had some major changes over the last few months with the club getting prepared for a Senior State Title round, a MX Nationals round, and the first round of the Northern Region Series, so it will be a track nearly everyone will ride at some time this year. A quick note on the MX Nationals round, it will be used as part of the selection process for the World Juniors in New Zealand, read below for the details.

Racing

All quiet on the racing front, I won’t be attending anything until February at the earliest and didn’t go anywhere during December, resting while I can!

State Motorcycle Sports Complex – Broadford

Like I mentioned earlier there has been some testing of mulch on the MX track with all reports so far being excellent, looks like there will be more of it brought in and spread in needed areas of the track. I have had a few calls in regards to SX practice, the Broadford complex does close down for a period of time over Christmas and any queries here are best handled by Patrick at Broadford.

2009 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship – New Zealand

Plenty happening here!

At this stage I can share with you that a request for applications will go out shortly for riders interested in being selected to represent Australia at this event, there are only 8 positions available per class (2 classes) for Australian Passport holders and Motorcycling Australia is expecting to send the full 8 per class. The MX and Junior Commissions have decided that Rounds 1 & 2 of the MX Nationals at Wodonga and Canberra will be used as part of the selection process, along with other means. This does not necessarily mean that riders finishing 1st - 8th at these events will be chosen, more along the lines of you must ride at this event to be selected, with exceptional circumstances also taken in to consideration. The exact program of how it will be run is not yet finalised. With the Canberra event being in late April, this will now leave less than 12 weeks to finalise the riders and having bikes and equipment available or freighted, plus any possible training sessions to be held, all in the middle of a fairly busy race season. I am definitely not trying to scare anyone off applying in fact I encourage it, riders and parents just need to be prepared for possibly a very busy schedule during this time which will no doubt make for a very exciting and rewarding experience. More details will flow soon with the majority of information to be found on the MA website, best of luck to all applicants.

Another newsletter finished, for questions on any of the details don’t hesitate to email me, until next time keep it upright!

Regards,