Mega Motorcycle Extravaganza Coming to Tauranga

First Onroad Offroad Lakes Series

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot on the heels of the Speedway GP and the City Scramble, New Zealand will shortly once again be hosting a star studded cast of international motorcycle champions.  This time, however, it’s happening in Tauranga – and we’re not talking about the Boobs on Bikes Parade.  

The First Onroad Offroad Lakes Series is a mega motorcycle event which brings together riders from different disciplines for an Olympics of Motorcycling. Next year it’s going to happen right on our doorstep!

The week long programme is scheduled for April and includes road racing (Moto GP, Superbike, Sidecars, Supermotard and Classic) Supercross, Motocross, Endurocross, Trials and Freestyle. The participation of the Speedway Federation is still being finalised. There may even be something for the history books. Rumour has it that Garden Hopping, the new trials discipline, will make its first NZ appearance in our backyards!

One of the difficulties in hosting such an event is, of course, finding an accessible venue that can cater for such a diverse range of competitive activities.  Tauranga is fortunate. It has The Lakes, a unique dynamic family focused subdivision on the outskirts of the city which, because of the current world financial situation, is not yet fully established. After prolonged and ardent negotiation and persuasion, The  Lakes at Tauriko has finally been confirmed as the official venue.   It is ideal.

The proposed 3km road racing circuit will have the start finish line (A) on Lakes Boulevard with riders travelling north turning left into Lakeview Quay, right into Landing Drive, left into Lakes Boulevard, right into Caldera Crescent, right into Hastings Road, left into Lakes Boulevard, left into Bathurst Crescent and finally right into Lakes Boulevard again.  A temporary motocross track (B) will be established in the area below the Sales Pavillon  with the Supercross track (C) in a specially set up arena zone in the recreational oval.

Trials riders will bring large boulders and other obstacles into their allocated area (D) between Fenders Close and Furl Close but will use the natural landscape behind for their hill climbs. Rexford Heights has been suggested for the Garden Hopping (E).  The Endurocross circuit (F) will be over the road by the lakeside. A spectacular launch ramp (G)  will see Freestyle riders soaring above Lake Taurikura from the lake access area. Trade displays (H) will use the space designated for the future neighbourhood shopping centre. Pits and parking will be on theState Highway 29 side of Taurikura Drive. Check out the map for details. Speedway and enduro/crosscountry races will be held off site, at Baypark and at Maddix Park respectively.

The promoters are most grateful to the residents of The Lakes for their acceptance of the event.  A door to door petition seeking approval for the First Onroad Offroad Lakes Series received unanimous support. “Live where you play – play where you live” is the slogan of The Lakes and the motto, it seems, of those who live there.

The powers that be are equally supportive and with reason. The First Onroad Offroad Lakes Series is estimated to bring several million dollars into the local economy and according to city leaders will provide a much needed and timely boost in this current period of economic difficulty.

More good news concerns the contingent of international riders who will be attending. The promoters of The Lakes mega motorcycle extravaganza are twinned with the organizers of the Federation Of Ontario Lakes Series which runs a similar event around the Great Lakes of North America and has access to a host of international riders who can’t wait to prove their skills down under. 

International Riders provisionally entered for the event include:

Agostini, Giacomo – Classic Road

Pastrana, Travis - Freestyle

Rossi,  Valentino -  Moto GP

Izzi Nico, MX

Lemoine, Matthew SuperX  Lites

Frossard, Steven - MX

Oswald, Jake - MX

Oelschläger,  Jürgen- Superbike

Lorenzo, Jorge – Moto GP

Sherwood, Levi - Freestyle

If you're into two wheels, it's a dream come true.  A feast of sounds and thrills is promised.  If you're not, no matter. Just get behind us, Tauranga, and help make it memorable.

For regular updates on this mega motorcycle First Onroad Offroad Lakes Series, click here.