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Photo - Kirk Bezzant explodes out of a corner in Taranaki on the weekend:
Photo courtesy of Andy McGechan:
Email Andy: He may have a photo of you in his extensive files?
KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN - Press Release:
It was “green for go” at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Nationals in New Plymouth at the weekend as a young man on a green bike ran off with the top prize. Cambridge rider Kirk Bezzant rode his Kawasaki KX250F to the head of the eldest junior 125cc class, for riders aged 15 and 16 years, and never looked back.
As the 16-year-old Bezzant wiped the sweat from his eyes after the weekend’s ninth and final race in the class, he had already started making plans to torment the seniors. He turns 17 in July and will enter the men’s world at the big annual Queen’s Birthday meeting at Tokoroa.
Although Bezzant finished a whopping 25 points clear of his nearest rival, Honda-mounted Lee McKinstry, from Taupo, his title chase started off badly.
“I had a few bad starts and a few crashes,” he conceded after crossing the finish line third and sixth in his two races on Friday afternoon. But, those were to be his worst results and he was on the podium in every outing thereafter.
Indeed, once he’d found his rhythm, Bezzant was a powerful force, charging past anyone in his way as his green bike signalled “go, go go” and his many fans signalled likewise from trackside.
“The bike was simply mint, absolutely crisp,” said Bezzant. “But, at the end of the day, I’d have to say consistency was what did it for me.”
The Cambridge High School sixth-former is taking a car painting course. “I think I’ll be painting everything green, until the boss tells me off,” he laughed.
But he would much prefer to follow his dream and become a professional motocross racer like former Kawasaki stalwart racer before him, Taupo's world champion, Ben Townley. Bezzant has already tasted International racing of the highest order and is current world junior 125cc No.19, following a stellar performance at the world junior championships in Latvia last year.
Backing up Bezzant’s great showing in New Plymouth, Murupara’s Rhys Carter will ditch his unflattering No.733 number board after finishing fourth in the 15-16 years’ 125cc class despite failing to finish one of his nine races.
Kawasaki also featured well in the 125cc group for younger riders, those aged 12-14 years, with Lower Hutt’s Travis Edwards coming home third and Huntly’s Aaron Stone finishing ninth overall.
Taupo’s Brad Groombridge had a mixed weekend, slipping one place in the national 85cc rankings from second to third but was still remarkably positive at the end of the three-day weekend. The 14-year-old said he had an “awesome weekend, the track was mint and the bike sweet”. A loose spark plug robbed him of power in two races before the problem was traced and, though he finished third in the 13-16 years’ class, he was always near the front and just five points separated the top three riders at the end of the nine-race championship.
Warkworth’s Michael Wade (Kawasaki) finished eighth in the class.
A great display of consistency saw Rotorua’s John Phillips take his Kawasaki KX85 to runner-up spot in the 11-12 years’ 85cc class as he finished no lower than fifth all weekend. Fellow Kawasaki rider Cameron Dillon, from Mangakino, finished fifth in the same class.
Kawasaki Team Green manager Mike Ramsey was enthusiastic about the “Kawasaki family” at the end of the hectic 66-race weekend, beaming from ear to ear as he summed up the three-day experience.
“The comradeship felt in the big Team Green marquee tent was awesome,” he said.
“Everybody pitched in and did their bit. It was great. On the track we had some mixed results, but off it the feeling was very warm and positive.
“I think the sport looks very healthy for the future. There is some amazing young talent in New Zealand. Just wait until it surfaces in the senior ranks … I think a few people might be in for a surprise.
“The Taranaki Motorcycle Club did a fantastic job. To turn on a national three-day meting like this takes real courage and lots of hard work.”
Results from the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships near New Plymouth at the weekend:
125cc, 15-16 years: 1. K. Bezzant (Cambridge, Kawasaki) 197 points, 2. L. McKinstry (Taupo, Honda) 172, 3. M. Wilkie (Masterton, Suzuki) 162, 4. R. Carter (Murupara, Kawasaki) 146, 5. B. Rutten (Waikanae, Yamaha) 131.
125cc, 12-14 years: 1. M. Hunt (Gisborne, Yamaha) 225, 2. J. Jessup (Porirua, Yamaha) 176, 3. T. Edwards (Lower Hutt, Kawasaki) 170, 4. J. Johnston (Cambridge, Yamaha) 163, 5. T. Coleman (Marton, Honda) 146.
85cc, 13-16 years: 1. M. Menchi (Paraparaumu, KTM) 199, 2. M. Wilkie (Masterton, Suzuki) 197, 3. B. Groombridge (Taupo, Kawasaki) 194, 4. N. Sword (Canterbury, Yamaha) 143, 5. A. Parington (Australia, KTM) 142.
85cc, 11-12 years: 1. R. Flavell (Taupo, Honda) 220, 2. J. Phillips (Rotorua, Kawasaki) 186, 3. M. McCarthy (Marton, KTM) 160, 4. J. Guthrie (Nelson, Yamaha) 146, 5. C. Dillon (Mangakino, Kawasaki) 129.
85cc, 8-11 years: 1. J. Doeksen (Auckland, Yamaha) 222, 2. D. Picard (Atiamuri, KTM) 173, 3. J. Johnson (Whangarei, Suzuki) 164, 4. L. Blackbouren (Kawasaki) 157, 5. J. Locke (Whangarei, Suzuki) 118.
