MOKEY FLIES AT ROUND 1 OF NORTH ISLAND MOTOX CHAMPS
TAUPO
LABOUR WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA
TEAM
VR PERFORM WELL AT THE WAIKATO CHAMPS
TEAM
VR 125cc’s STOLEN!!!
MICHEAL
SIGNS TO RACE 125cc FOR CASTROL HONDA TEAM
2001
CR’S ARRIVE IN NEW ZEALAND
MICHEAL
CHOSEN TO REPRESENT NORTH ISLAND
RUSSELL
NAMED HUNTLY MOTORCYCLE CLUB PRESIDENT
Monday 6 November
2000
MOKEY FLIES AT ROUND 1 OF NORTH ISLAND MOTOX CHAMPS
During a horribly wet weekend Micheal competed at the first round of
the North Island Junior Motocross Champs held at the Meremere Drag Strip
in the Waikato. After his huge crash in Blenheim at the North Island
versus South Island Champs last weekend Team VR were unsure if he would
even compete as he was so sore - bruises and burns all over Mokey’s
body. But he was determined to carry on. In Saturday’s racing Micheal
went 2-5 in the 13-16 years 85cc class. He also went 2-1 in the 12-14
years 125cc class - including lapping every person in his class up to
and including third place when Mokey was in second!! That showed just
how fast Micheal was riding. Sunday dawned - it was still raining. But
Mokey continued his great form on his stock-standard Honda - winning
all three 12-14 years 125cc races and going 2-1-2 in the 13-16 years
85cc. On top of that Micheal also rode in both Champion of Champions
85cc and Champion of Champions 125cc classes back to back - gaining
4th in the 125cc race and 2nd in the 80cc’s. Amazingly, Micheal rode
13 20 minute moto’s in two days - over 4 hours racing altogether!! Mokey
is currently winning both his classes, both by 9 points. Roll on Round
2 - to be held in the Bay Of Plenty in February 2001.
Wednesday
25 October 2000
TAUPO LABOUR WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA
Team VR once again trekked down to Taupo for the Annual Labour Weekend
Extravaganza. Micheal raced on Saturday in both the 13-16 years and
12-14 years 125cc class. Micheal had just received his new 125cc bike
a couple of nights before - and got his brand new 2001 CR80 the day
he was competing. He had a bad race in the first 80 race, finishing
6th which he was not impressed with. Luckily his starts got better as
the day wore on, going 2-2 for the last two races. He finished 3rd overall
behind Mason Phillips and fellow Honda rider Jaden Gray respectively.
Micheal had a better time on the 125cc, going 4-3-3 for the day, 3rd
overall behind Michael Phillips and Australian Mick MacDermid. Matthew
raced on Sunday. Unfortunately he fell off his CR125 during practice,
injuring his thigh badly. Even so, he ignored pleas to withdraw from
the days competition - Matt had to pick his leg up with his hands to
put it over the bike whilst on the start line for his first race. He
had a bad start, but fought his way through the pack to take 6th. His
start in the second race wasn’t any better, finishing 8th. Matt was
very frustrated as he felt he should be up the front. Matt was third
to the first corner in the third and final race of the day, and was
gaining on the two riders in front when one bit the dirt, leaving Matt
2nd place. That’s where he finished, and took out 3rd place by 1 point
over Tania Satchwell. So it was 3rds for Team VR - and they had a great
time getting them.
Monday
16 October 2000
TEAM VR PERFORM WELL AT THE WAIKATO CHAMPS
After the shock loss of their bikes, it was not expected for Matthew
and Micheal to compete competitively on a borrowed bike that was not
set up for them specifically. But they did it - and did it well. Micheal
competed on Saturday - the day after his CR125 was stolen. He borrowed
another 2001 125 to ride, finishing 3rd in the 12-14 years 125cc class
after three 3rds from three starts. The day was very hot which did not
make the racing easy for Micheal with 6 races in all. He enjoyed the
natural flowing track which was carved out of the side of a hill on
the Boddies farm, just north of Te Kuiti. Micheal had more of a mixed
bag in the 13-16 years 85cc class. He gained two thirds and a second
to place 2nd overall for the day. He was complaining of lack of power
in his CR80 up the hills, so that will give Russell something to fix
over the next week. Sunday dawned overcast - the sun from the day before
was gone. The track was very rutty from the day before. That would only
get worse as the Pro’s got going in their class. Russell was fresh from
a DNF at the Port Waikato 4 Hour Enduro. He placed a creditable 9th
in the Intermediate Overs - he could not compete in the Veterans as
they raced the day before when he was at the Enduro. Matthew competed
in the Expert Unders on the same borrowed bike that Micheal rode the
day before. He placed 2nd in the first race. He won the second race
after making a pass on one of the last corners of the last lap to take
the checkers. He was dicing for third place in the last race when he
fell off. Matt lost four places by the time he got back on his bike,
but passed them all for 4th in the last race and 2nd overall for the
day. Team VR were pleased with their rides, but could only think about
what could’ve been if they’d had their own bikes to ride.
Monday
16 October 2000
TEAM VR 125cc’s STOLEN!!!
Friday the 13th was a very bad day for Team VR. They awoke to find that
Matthew and Micheal’s six week old 2001 CR125’s had been stolen during
the night. The thieves broke into the Team VR farm-shed and taken the
two new bikes, leaving Russell’s YZ400 and Micheals CR80. It couldn’t
have come at a worse time, with Micheal racing the following day at
the Waikato Champs, and Matthew racing on Sunday. This forced a huge
run-around to gain a CR125 for the boys to contest their classes on.
There has been Continued in More News... huge support for the boys in
their quest to get the bikes back. The theft happened at one of the
worst times possible, with many important championship meetings happening
in the coming months. Both have the Taupo Labour Weekend Extravaganza
this weekend and Micheal has the first round of the North Island Junior
Motocross Championships in two weeks. Luckily the bikes are highly modified
and very distinctive. Here’s hoping this will help the bikes to be found
quickly.
Friday
1 September 2000
MICHEAL SIGNS TO RACE 125cc FOR CASTROL HONDA TEAM
Micheal Vining, youngest member of Team VR, has been signed to race
for an elite Castrol Honda Factory team for the coming 2000-2001 championship
season. After 5 years racing a Honda motorcycle, Micheal has chosen
to stick with his favourite brand, which is imported by Blue Wing Honda
in Auckland. Micheal will contest the 12-14 year 125cc class until he
turns 15 at the end of the year. This is big news for the 14 year old,
who had a boomer 99-2000 season on his CR80 in the 13-16 year class,
gaining 2nd in the North Island Junior Championship, and 4th overall
in New Zealand. He won the 12-16 year under 250cc Four Stroke class
at the Thumper Nationals at Easter, and had creditable placings in the
Mystery Creek Supercross, Taupiri Supercross and Bel Ray Hare Scrambles.
Micheal plans to continue racing his 2000 CR80 in the 13-16 85cc class
in addition to his new 2001 bike through until after the New Zealand
Nationals in April next year.
Monday
28 August 2000
2001 CR’S ARRIVE IN NEW ZEALAND
Micheal and Matthew have been buzzing in anticipation for the past week,
because at this time of year marks the arrival of the brand new dirtbike
models. But this year is even better, as both boys are getting a new
2001 CR125 each. Matthew will continue to ride in the Expert 125cc class,
whilst Micheal is keeping his 2000 CR80 to ride in the 13-16 year 85cc
class. He will also contest the 12-14 year 125cc class on his new bike.
Friday
25 August 2000
MICHEAL CHOSEN TO REPRESENT NORTH ISLAND
Micheal has been invited to represent the North Island in the North
Island versus South Island Motocross Championship. Five riders from
each senior motocross class plus three Junior 125cc riders and two 80cc
riders have been asked to race against the South Islanders in Blenheim
during the last weekend in October. Micheal will be racing his 2000
CR80 in the challenge. Will update this when more information comes
to hand. Date:
Monday
17/7/00
RUSSELL NAMED HUNTLY MOTORCYCLE CLUB PRESIDENT
Russell was nominated to become Huntly Motorcycle Club’s new President
at the AGM the other week. Russell is looking forward to tackling the
behind-the-scenes issues in running motorcycle events. With Huntly having
quite a few major motorcycling events on it’s schedule this year, Russell
will have his hands full. But he needn’t worry, as all of Team VR will
be on hand to help him out with the organisation of the Bel Ray Hare
Scramble series and the first round of the North Island Junior Motocross
Champs to be held in November.
