Andorra Here We Come !

3 Bay Riders in NZ Team

New Zealand’s top trials riders, including 3 from the Bay of Plenty, are now all in Europe and preparing to compete in the ultimate event on the trials calendar, the Trials des Nations 2014, which is scheduled for September 13^th & 14th in Andorra, a tiny 468 km² principality tucked in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain.

Jacob and Gabby Gundry (Tauranga), John Haynes (Reporoa), Matt Foster and minder Kevin Gundry left on the weekend to join the other two team members, Blake Fox and Stephanie Downs, who are already in Europe.

The men’s team is a young team - Matt, the eldest, is only 22, Blake is 20, John is 19 and Jacob, the baby of the group, has only just gained eligibility by turning 16 - however, they definitely intend to finish in the top 10 in the International Class of the event. Note that the Trials des Nations is slightly different to the MX des Nations. 5 pro teams from Spain, England, Norway, Italy & France have a separate class whilst the other nations compete against each other.

The ladies team has similar aspirations. Steph and Gabby finished 9^th last time and are hoping to better that result.

Two dads, Kevin Gundry and Gavin Fox, along with Mike Skinner (in Europe already after the Romaniacs) are minders for the team, and John Ravenscroft is the team captain. Three local Spanish minders will come on board over there.

It’s going to be an intensive 17 days for all the riders. Their agenda includes:

1^st weekend 6^th/7^th Sept: Competing in the final round of the World Champs in Spain ( and maybe see Toni Bou create history with an 8^th successive world outdoor title)
Visit to the GasGas factory in Barcelona
Training with former champion Jordi Pasquet at his famous Trials Parc ( the team is hiring their trials bikes from him as well)
Two days riding as a team with the 3 Spanish minders
Special mid-week training for all non-European riders and the women
2^nd weekend: Trial des Nations in Andorra with the ladies competing on the Saturday 13^th Sept and the men on the Sunday 14^th Sept.

Obviously, organizing such a trip has involved a lot of inter hemisphere communication and there has been a lot of support from MNZ and Jim Henderson.

We wish the team well and every success, particularly our “locals”, Jacob & Gabby Gundry from Tauranga and John Haynes from Reporoa.

Check out the face book page BOP Trials 01.09.14 for updates.