There’s no rest for the wicked and that must make Darryll King a very bad person indeed.
The 37-year-old is fresh from finishing on the podium at the opening round of the Australian Motocross Championships near Melbourne last week, but now, instead of racing across the Tasman, he’s staying close to home.
Instead, he’s readying himself for the New Zealand Four-stroke Motocross Championships near Otorohanga in the King Country this weekend, a two-day meeting that will probably feature at least 10 outings for the two-time former world No.2.
King (Yamaha), who is current New Zealand 500cc and 250cc champion, is one of the favourites to win this weekend in both the open class and the veteran’s 35-39 years’ class.
“It will be a lot of fun,” said the Hamilton man. “I’d rather be racing in Tasmania (at round two of the Australian champs), particularly after having such a good weekend last weekend, but my priority these days is waving the Yamaha flag in New Zealand.
“I’m building up now towards the nationals and the more races I can do now the better, especially at my age.”
And it could be another family affair with King’s younger brother Damien, the national 125cc champion, also lining up to race.
“I may even race three classes this weekend,” Darryll King continued. “We’ll just have to wait and see whether I’ll take out a YZF250 as well and give Damien something to think about,” he laughed.
Pahiatua’s Adam Reeves (Suzuki), Christchurch’s Justin McDonald (Honda), Hamilton’s Jesse Wiki (Kawasaki), Taupo’s Nick Saunders (Kawasaki), Paraparaumu’s Jesse Donnelly (Yamaha), Huntly’s Hamish Stone (Kawasaki) and the evergreen Mitch Rowe (New Plymouth, Yamaha) are also expected to shine.
Women's world champion Katherine Prumm (Kawasaki) will race both the women’s class and 250cc class, where she will line up against some of the best men in the country.