Horsham has the Right to Host
World Junior MX Champs 2018
The Horsham Motorcycle Club has today announced that it has won the right to host the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme World Junior Motocross Championships in 2018.
In a major coup, Horsham Motorcycle Club president Kenny Watts said the world-class event will be huge for not only Horsham, but also Victoria, and Australia.
“We’re expecting hundreds of riders from every corner of the world to converge on Horsham for the FIM World Junior Motocross Championships in three years’ time. It’s going to be huge,” Mr Watts said.
“The event will lift the profile of junior motocross in Australia. It will also promote Horsham, the Wimmera, the Grampians, the state of Victoria, and Australia as a whole. It will also provide the chance for local businesses to be promoted worldwide,” Watts added.
After the club successfully hosted the Australian Junior Motocross Championships in 2013, Mr Watts jokingly mentioned to the committee that the only thing for the club left to do was to host the World Junior Motocross Championships.
“After a little while, we decided to contact the FIM to find out what requirements were needed to actually bring the event here,” Watts continued. “The dream really only came from a spur-of-the-moment comment and it ended up becoming reality.
“We spoke to FIM’s Youthstream in Monaco and we were told that they were looking to come to Australia and that Horsham is a known venue to them. They did their homework and set the wheels-in-motion to give us the opportunity to go for it.
“Then we saw representatives of the Horsham Rural City Council and the State Government to see if we could get any assistance to get it here. There are still a few boxes left to be ticked down the track but we think they are all achievable."
The event will be held over three days, with practice taking place on Friday, qualifying taking place on Saturday, and racing to occur on Sunday. Countries from around the world select their best young up-and-coming riders to compete in individual classes and team events. The specific dates in 2018 are still yet to be finalised.
Motorcycling Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wayne Holdsworth, said that this event was a big win for motorcycle sport in Victoria.
“Congratulations to everyone at the Horsham Motorcycle Club for bringing the FIM World Junior Motocross Championships to Horsham." Mr Holsdsworth said.
“Victoria has been on the top podium when it comes to hosting world-class motorcycling events and the FIM World Junior Motocross Championships will be no different. MV will support the Horsham Motorcycle Club when it welcomes the world in 2018.
“Motorcycling Victoria would also like to thank The Hon. John Eren for supporting the Horsham Motorcycle Club in its bid."
The Andrews Government has committed $80,000 for the club to host the event.
“The FIM World Junior Motocross Championships is Horsham’s opportunity to shine on the world stage. This will be one of the biggest sporting events the region has ever witnessed,” Mr John Eren concluded.
Top Image: Mayor of Horsham, Cr. Mark Radford, the Hon. John Eren MP (Victorian Sports Minister), CEO of Motorcycling Victoria, Mr Wayne Holdsworth and Motorcycling Australia president, Mr Braxton Laine at the Horsham Motorcycle
Credit: Motorcycling Victoria.