LANCE CREEK’S Charlie Bird is all set to soar high over the jumps at Korumburra’s motocross track when the club hosts the opening round of the M2R 2016 Victorian Junior Motocross Championships Presented by Honda Genuine Parts & Accessories this weekend, March 12-13.
Charlie, 9, has been competing in the sport since he was five-years-old and loves having fun riding with his mates and spending time with his family. “I really enjoy riding fast and jumping high in the air on my motorbike. It is lots of fun,” Charlie said.
Charlie will be competing in the 50cc 7-under 9-years-old Division 2 class on the weekend where he hopes to do well at his hometown track. “I really like the jumps at Korumburra. I would really like to finish in third or second place this year. I haven’t done that before and it would be really nice to get on the podium,” he added.
Charlie’s Dad, Graham Bird, is the president of the Korumburra Motorcycle Club, and he and his team of dedicated volunteers has been busy preparing the club’s facilities and the track to welcome well-over 300 riders and their families to the South Gippsland region on the weekend.
“There’s a lot of preparation going on at the club at the moment to make sure everything is up to scratch for the weekend,” Graham said.
“We’ve made a couple of improvements to the track from last year. We’ve changed the way the track flows near the back straight and so far everyone has liked the change. The changes also got rid of a little safety problem as well so it killed two birds with one stone,” he added.
Korumburra MC hosted a successful opening round of the VJMXC in March 2015. “Entries are already up from last year so hopefully it’s a nice, successful and safe weekend. We had a pretty good weekend last year. We had record numbers at last year’s event, especially for the girls, with about 12 participants,” he said.
“We’ve got lots of members around to help out and we hope to see some good racing. These juniors are great to watch,” Graham added.
Charlie would one day like to compete in Australia’s top motocross competition, the MX Nationals, and emulate Ryan Dungey, a multiple motocross champion who became the first motocross rider on a box of Wheaties in the United States this year. “He’s pretty fast and I would like to go overseas and ride like him in America one day,” Charlie added. Charlie would like to thank his Dad, and his coaches Ross Beaton and Jed Beaton.
Graham would like to thank his team of volunteers, Life Members, and the committee at Korumburra MC for all their help in preparing for the opening round of the VJMXC. “It’s great to see everyone pitching in and doing their bit. Hopefully, weather permitting, we’ll have a good weekend,” Graham added.
Round 1 of the M2R 2016 Victorian Junior Motocross Championships Presented by Honda Genuine Parts & Accessories will take place at Outtrim-Leongatha Road in Outtrim this weekend, starting on Saturday, March 12. For more information please visit: www.motorcyclingvic.com.au.