Visiting international motocross riders to Australia
Since the 1960s, Australia has held many International Motocross events.
In 1961 Australian scrambles rider Tim Gibbes, who raced on the continent and later moved to New Zealand, organised an International Grand Prix in New Zealand.
In 1964-65 he established the Gold Leaf International Motocross tour of New Zealand, bringing over three international riders from England and Europe – George Hauger (Germany – Wabeha), Authur Harris (England, Harris Triumph Special) and Max Morf (Switzerland – CZ).
After its success, in 1967/68, Gibbes decided to add Australia to the tour with the inaugural Australian New Zealand International tour featuring Swede Gunnar Lindstrom (Husqvarna), JN Roberts (USA, Husqvarna) and John Lewis (UK, BSA).
Snake Gully in South Australia hosted Australia’s first international motocross meeting on 12 November 1967, followed by Christmas Hills (VIC), followed by Woolongong (NSW) before the tour crossed the Tasman for seven more events at different venues across New Zealand. Swedish Husqvarna test rider Gunnar Lindstrom won the inaugural series.
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International motocross champions down under
Riders listed by years, in alphabetic order
1967
The very first Australia New Zealand International Motocross Tour was in 1967/68 with the first round at Snake Gully (SA), Christmas Hill (VIC), followed by Woolongong (NSW) before crossing the Tasman for seven more events at different venues across New Zealand. This tour featured International riders: Andy Roberton (Great Britain) John Lewis (Wales), Gordon Lindstom (Sweden), J.N. Roberts (USA), Morley Sherriffs, Gordon Holland, Ivan Miller, Brian Martin, Tim Gibbes (New Zealand), plus top Australian riders Laurie Alderton (NSW) and Ray Fisher (Vic).
gibbes, tim - new zealand
1967-68
New South Wales rider Tim Gibbes contested the 1966/67 & 67/68 Australia New Zealand International motocross tours, representing New Zealand after settling there after a ten-year racing career in Europe and the USA. Gibbes organised the first two international tours down under, after establishing the International Gold Leaf series in New Zealand.
LEWIS, JOHN - WALES
1967-68
Welshman John Lewis competed in the 1967/68 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand. His bike didn’t arrive in time, so he rode burrowed BSA machines in the opening three rounds, but still performed well. This photo is at Mount Kembla in New South Wales, where he is chasing local Matt Daley.
LINDSTroM, GUNNAR - Sweden
1967-68
Swedish rider Gunnar Lindstrom competed in the 1967/68 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand. The factory Husqvarna rider was fast and won the opening race at the Christmas Hills round in Victoria. He travelled down under to promote the new Husqvarna bikes.
MArtin, brian - new zealand
1967-68
New Zealand rider Brian Martin competed in the 1967/68 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealander, who was also a road racer and desert racer, settled on the east coast of Australia. He won the 125cc Australian Championship at Manjimup in 1974 on a Honda (pictured here on a Suzuki).
Miller, ivan - new Zealand
1967s-1970s
New Zealand rider Ivan Miller first rode in Australia during the 1967/68 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand. He compete in many international series in Australia, returning regularly and won two Australian Motocross titles (500cc and Unlimited) at Clarendon in South Australia in September 1971 up against a high quality international field.
ROBERTon, andy - great britain
1967-68
British rider Andy Roberton contested the second Australia New Zealand International Motocross tour in 1967/68. In 1971 Roberton the Trans-AMA series and contested the 500cc World Motocross Championships, finishing in the Top 10 in 1972. In his early years he was a member of the British A.J.S. Factory Team, later switching to Husqvarnas.
ROBERTS, J.N. - UNITED STATES
1967-68
United States rider J.N. Roberts contested the inaugural Australia New Zealand International Motocross tour in 1967/68. Roberts, from Indiana, was a professional off-road and enduro motorcycle racer and a film industry stuntman At one point in his desert racing career, Roberts won 27 consecutive desert races, earning him the unofficial nickname of King of the Desert.
sherriffS, morley - new zealand
1967-68
New Zealand rider Morley Sheriffs (right, pictured here with Ray Fisher) first rode in Australia during the 1967/68 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand. He was a regular member of this tour, which was run by Australian motocross pioneer, who settled in New Zealand after retiring from international racing.
1968-1969
As the 1967/68 Australia New Zealand International Motocross Tour was a big success, Tim Gibbes organised a second tour in 1968/69, including Western Australia (Herne Hill) and Tasmania. This tour featured International riders: Gordan Adsett, brothers Randy and Rowley Owen, all from the UK and Freddi Postman from Austria.
ADsett, gordon - great britain
1966-67
British rider Gordon Adsett competed in the 1966/67 Australian and New Zealand International Motocross tour. That was the first year of the series and the other international riders included Freddi Postmann (Austria), Tim Gibbes (NZ), UK riders – brothers Randy Owen and Tony Owen.
OWEN, Randy - great britain
1968-71
British rider Randy Owen first competed in the 1968/69 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand, becoming a regular down under. The British champion (pictured here with Gary Flood at the Australian Championships in Clarendon, SA) finished second in both the 125 & 500 classes and third in the Unlimited.
OWEN, rowley - great britain
1968-71
British rider Rowley Owen, Randy’s younger brother, also competed in the 1968/69 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand, then returned again to Australia in 1971. Here he is pictured in the opening round of the tour at Herne Hill on the outskirts of Perth in Western Australia.
postmann, freddi - austria
1968-69
Austrian rider Freddi Postmann competed in the 1968/69 International Motocross series that toured across Australia and New Zealand. The Austrian motocross champion is pictured here (second from left) with Tim Gibbes (to his right) at Perth Airport with other riders at the start of the tour at Herne Hill, on the outskirts of Perth (WA).
1971
Only two Australia New Zealand International Motocross tours were held as, once the word spread and the Australians learnt from Gibbes how to host these events, many individual international events were held right across the country. The A.J.S. Motorcycle Club annually held an international event at the Herne Hill Circuit and in 1971, a second round was held in WA at Manjimup, before the International riders headed east. The 1971 tour featured Internationals Jim Aird (Scotland), Ivan Miller (NZ) and brothers Randy and Rowley Owen (Great Britain), who returned to Australia. Rowley later immigrated to New Zealand.
aird, jim - scotland
1970s-1980s
Scottish motocross champion Jim Aird regularly raced in Australia during the 1970s and 1980s. He won the 1971 Australian New Zealand Tour International tour, after competing in the Australian Championships at Clarendon in SA. He also competed several times in the King of the Cross and Manjimup 15000 in WA.
1972
In 1972 a South Australian entrepreneur staged a new International Motocross series bringing down under for the first time – three World Motocross Champions – Belgiums Roger De Coster and Joel Robert and Swede Bengt Aberg. De Coster would go on to win five Motocross World Championships and Robert six. Per Klitland (Denmark) and Hans Applegren (Sweden), who migrated to Australia, also competed in this series, which was contested in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.
Aberg, bengt - Sweden
1967/68
Swedish rider Bengt Aberg competed in the 1972 Australian International Motocross tour. Aberg was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He won the FIM 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1969 and 1970 while riding for the Husqvarna factory racing team.
APPLEGREN, HANS - sweden
1972-76
Swedish rider Hans Applegren various Australian International Motocross events and stayed. He first lived in Perth (WA) and won three State Motocross titles in 1973 and 1974. He was the R-up Australian Champion in the 125cc and Unlimited classes at Manjimup in 1974, then moved to Sydney. In 1976 he was the R/up National 500cc champion.
DE COSTER, ROGER - BELGIUM
1972
Belgium rider Roger De Coster contested the 1972 International Motocross series in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales – a one-off event run by a SA promoter and featured many world champions. De Coster won five Motocross World Championships between 1971 to 1976 tallying a record 36 500cc Grand Prix victories.
ROBERT, JOEL - BELGIUM
1972
Belgium rider Joel Robert contested the 1972 International Motocross series in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales – a one-off event run by a SA promoter and featured many world champions. Robert, the reigning 250cc World Champ, was Belgium’s first motocross superstar winning six motocross world championships between 1964-72.
Klitland, Per - Denmark
1972-1976
Danish rider Per Klitland competed in the 1972 International Motocross Tour and other events, racing down under full time between 1973 to 1976. The Maico rider won the 250cc Australian Motocross Championship at Mulbring (NSW) in 1973 and challenged for the Mr MX title between 1974-76, finishing second in 1975 behind Gary Flood.
weil, adolf - germany
1972
German Maico rider Adolf Weil was a professional motocrosser and was the Runner-up 1973 250cc World Champion. Weil won 14 German motocross national championships and competed in the 1972 Australian International Motocross Tour, which was run by South Australian promoter Tim Prouse.
Adolf Weil – Wikipedia
Australian New Zealand International Motocross Tour
1975
With Belgium rider Gason Rahier winning Suzuki’s first World Motocross Championship in 1975 in the 125cc class, three Suzuki Factory riders and a host of other internationals came to Australia for a promotional tour and also competed in the Australian Motocross Championships in Sanford, Tasmania. The other Suzuki riders were Gerard Camel (Belgium) and Masanori Ozeki (Japan) and the other Internationals were Victor Allen (Scotland), Gualtiero Brissoni (Italy) and Micjel Combes (France).
Allen, Vic - scotland
1975
Scottish motocross rider Vic Allen toured Australia in 1975. He finished second to reigning World 125cc Champion Gaston Rahier in the 500cc class on a Bultaco at the Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania. The British 250cc and 500cc Champion was quick – twice beating Suzuki rider Rahier on the tour.
Brissoni, Gualtiero - Italy
1975
Italian motocross rider Gualtiero Brissoni toured Australia in 1975, fresh from winning the Junior Italian Motocross Championship. He competed at the Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania. Over the next ten years he would win the European Enduro Championship twice in the 250cc class and three 125 titles, to become one of Italy’s greatest enduro riders.
Camal, Gerard - Belgium
1975
Belgium motocross rider Gerard Camel competed in the Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania in 1975. The Suzuki Factory rider finished third behind newly crowned World 125cc Champion Gaston Rahier, also from Belgium, in both the 125cc and 250cc Australian Championships. Camal competed in the World 125cc Championships in 1976.
Combes, michel - france
1975
French motocross rider Michel Combes competed in the Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania in 1975. At the time, Combes won the French 250cc Motocross Championship (1967). He had a long distinguished career and won his second French Motocross Championship in the 500cc class in 1983.
Ozeki, Masanori - Japan
1975
Japanese motocross rider Masanori Ozeki toured Australia in 1975, competing at the Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania. The tour included the three Suzuki Factory riders – Ozeki, Gerard Camel (Belgium) and newly crowned World 125cc Champion Gaston Rahier, also from Belgium.
RAHIER, Gaston - belgium
1975
Belgium motocross rider and reigning World 125cc Motocross Champion Gaston Rahier toured Australia in 1975 and 1976, competing at the 1975 Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania. Rahier also won the 250cc and Unlimited Championships, he competed at other events in the Eastern States and ran several riding schools promoting the new Suzukis.
1976
After the success of the 1975 Suzuki International Motocross promotional tour – where World Champion Gaston Rahier (Belgium, Suzuki) cleaned up Rahier returned the following year after winning his second world 125cc championship. This time he was joined by Suzuki Works riders Frenchman Frank Logney and New Zealand legend Ivan Miller and up and coming British Maico rider Neil Hudson. With Rahier riding under duress with a wrist injury, 19-year-old Hudson emerged victorious, cleaning up in Queensland (Tivoli), Victoria (Wanthaggi) and New South Wales (Jilliby Park), also racing at Noble Falls in Western Australia.
huDSON, NEIL - GREAT BRITAIN
1976
British rider Neil Hudson raced at the Australian International meeting with Gaston Rahier at Tivoli, in Queensland on 14 November 1976. He was a sponsored Maico rider when he came to Australia, but later became a Yamaha Factory rider. In 1981 he became the first British rider to win a 250cc World Motocross Championship.
1978
With Suzuki and Maico promoting their latest motocross bikes down under, Husqvarna followed suit sending Swedish rider Pelle Granquist to Australia for two seasons. Born in the Swedish town of Husqvarna (where the bike factory was located), Granquist rode for the new Australian Husqvarna dealer Rick Andrews, also working there part-time.
granquist, pelle - sweden
1978-79
Swedish rider Pelle Granquist came to Australia in the late 1970s and took the motocross scene by storm. Based in Sydney, New South Wales, in two years Granquist won four Australian Motocross Championships (1978 and 1979) and was a challenger in both Mr Motocross series.
1980s
The introduction of Supercross to Australia saw an influx of International motocross riders down under, with several loving the country and deciding to stay. In 1980 Rex Staten and Marty Smith (US) competed in the Sydney Supercross. Three other Americans Jimmy Ellis, the late Marty Moates and Eddy Warren all came over to Australia for Supercross events, then stayed. Also with the King of the Cross being an International event in 1979 to coincide with Western Australia’s 150th anniversary and the Manjimup 15,000 taking off in 1980, visiting International riders down under became a regular thing. Jeff Leisk’s profile on the International circuit also raised the country’s profile and many riders attended Supercross events promoted by Jeff’s father Bob. In 1983, reigning 500cc Motocross Champion Hakan Carlqvist (Sweden) toured down under to promote the Yamaha bikes, along with team mate Danny LaPorte (US), 1982 World 250cc Champion.
CARLQVIST, HAKAN - SWEDEN
1983
Swedish rider Hakan Carlqvist competed in Australia in 1983, fresh from winning the 1983 World 500cc Championship, aboard a Yamaha. The late Carlqvist competed at Broadford (VIC) and supercross events at Penrith (NSW) and Fremantle (WA) over three weekends. He convincingly won all races at Broadford, but had crashes at Penrith and Fremantle.
eLLIS, JIMMY - UNITED STATES
1980s
United States rider Jimmy Ellis competed in Australia during the 1980s. Ellis was one of the USA’s top Supercross riders and became one of Australia’s leading riders. After winning the 500cc Australian Championship at Broadford (VIC) in 1984, he won both the 125cc and 250cc Australian titles at Noble Falls in 1985 and the King of the Cross in 1986, both in WA.
GLOVER, BROC - UNITED STATES
1981 to 1989
Dubbed the “Golden Boy”, Glover from San Diego in California (USA) competed several times in Australian supercross and motocross events during the 1980s.
Glover won the Melbourne Supercross Masters in 1981 against a world-class line-up and Australia’s top racers. His farewell supercross tour ended at the Burswood Superdome, Perth in October 1988.
JOHNSON, RICKY - UNITED STATES
1983
American motocross and supercross legend Ricky Johnson toured Australia in 1983, racing at the International Superbowl of Motocross at East Fremantle (WA), then International Motocross meeting at Broadford (VIC). Johnson would go on to become one of the greatest American motocross riders of all time winning seven AMA national championships.
LAPORTE, DANNY - UNITED STATES
1983
United States rider Danny Laporte competed in Australia in 1983, joining Yamaha team mate Hakan Carlqvist who had just won the 1983 World 500cc Championship, aboard a Yamaha. America’s first World Motocross Champion (1982 250cc) competed at the Penrith (NSW) and Fremantle (WA) Supercross events in October and November.
Leask, Perry - Great Britain
1980s
British rider Perry Leask competed at the Manjimup 15000 in 1985 at Manjimup (WA). Leask was the British Schoolboy Champion and runner up British Champion in both the 125cc and 250cc classes. He won two New Zealand Motocross Championships and six British 4-Stroke championships.
Patterson, Bryan - New Zealand
1980s
New Zealand rider Bryan Patterson contested the King of the Cross motocross spectacular at the Southern Cross Gold Mining town in Western Australia. Patterson, from Rotorua, won the 1984 500cc New Zealand Motocross Championship.
MOATES, MARTY - UNITED STATES
1980s
United States rider, the late Marty Moates, made Australia his home in the mid 1980s. Marty received world recognition in 1980 when he won the 500cc USA Grand Prix at Carlsbad, in California. He was a privateer at the time and beat the World’s top factory riders. Marty was the runner-up 500cc Australian Motocross Champion in 1983 at Acusa Park (SA).
sMITH, MARTY- United States
1980
United States rider, the late Marty Smith (far right), won three American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) National Motocross championships in the 1970s. Smith competed in Australia at the 1980 Sydney Supercross – coming second in this event. Earlier that year Smith represented the US team in the Trophee des Nations and Motocross des Nations in Europe.
staten, rex - United States
1980
United States rider Rex Staten competed in Australia at the 1980 Sydney Supercross – winning this event. Staten, from San Bernardino in California, had just won the Daytona Superbowl of Motocross and represented the US team in the Trophee des Nations and Motocross des Nations in Europe that year.
1980 Sydney Supercross
Edison Dye Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 – Motocross Action Magazine
WARREN, EDDY- UNITED STATES
1987-1995
United States rider Eddy Warren competed in Australia between 1987 to 1995, winning both the 250cc and 500cc Australian Motocross Championships at Acusa Park in South Australia in 1989. That year Warren, from Michigan, was at his peak and took out many other titles across the country, including the King of the Cross in Southern Cross, Western Australia.
1992 to 2001
In 1992 Australia hosted the World Motocross of Nations at Manjimup in Western Australia. it was the first time ever that the International team event was staged outside of Europe and held in the southern hemisphere. The event on 5 June attracted more than 20,000 spectators and was a huge success, enabling the Manjimup Motorcycle Club to host a round of the World 125cc Grand Prix circus in 1993. In 2000 Australia hosted a round of the World 500cc Motocross Championships at Broadford in Victoria. Once again, due to its success, a round of the 125, 250 and 500 World Championship was held at Broadford the following year – under the new format with all classes competing at the same venue.
PICHON, Mickael - france
1993
17-year-old Frenchman Mickael Pichon raced in Australia at the 1993 World 125cc Motocross Grand Prix at Manjmup in WA. Pichon went on to win two AMA SX Championships in the United States, then won back to back World 250cc Motocross Championships. Pichon is the fifth highest Grand Prix winner in the history of the world championships (2001 and 2002).
SEE BELOW, THE INTERNATIONAL RIDERS WHO COMPETED IN THE AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHP SERIES
2002...
When the New Zealand King brothers returned from their successful racing careers on the World Motocross Grand Prix circuit in Europe, they competed regularly in Australia. Darryll, the younger brother of World Champion Shayne) won three Australian MX1 Motocross Championships (2001, 03-04). Fellow kiwis Daryl Hurley won the Australian MX1 Championship in 2005, and Josh Coppins won the Australian 2012 MX1 Championship after competing in the World Championships from 1993 to 2012.
Coppins, josh - new zealand
2012
New Zealand motocross rider Josh Coppins won the Australian 2012 MX1 Championship after competing in the World Championships from 1993 to 2012 . Coppins posted four top three results during his career including a second place in the 2002 250cc motocross world championship and a second place in the MX1 world championship.
hurley, daryl - new zealand
2005
New Zealand motocross rider Daryl Hurley won the Australian 2005 MX1 Championship. Hurley won four New Zealand 125cc motocross titles (in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004) before moving on to win the New Zealand MX1 title in 2007, following by his winning the New Zealand MX2 crown in 2008.
King, darryll - new zealand
1990s-2000s
New Zealand rider Darryll King is a three-time Australian MX1 Motocross Champion (2001, 03-04). King contested the World Motocross Championships in the 1990s. He finished in the top five six times and was second in 1997 and 1998. King, the younger brother of World Champion Shayne, is also a 19-time New Zealand motocross national champion.
Wikipedia
NZ Hall of Fame
King, shayne - new zealand
1990s-2000s
New Zealand rider Shayne King competed in several events in Australia before competing in the World Motocross Championships becoming the Word 500cc Champion in 1996. King is the first Kiwi to win an FIM motocross world championship. King, the older brother of Darryll, was inducted into the NZ Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008.
International sidecarcross champions down under
Bollhalder, emil -Switzerland
1984
Swiss rider and reigning World Sidecarcross Champion Emil Bollhalder toured Australia in 1984. With South Australian Russell Ellis in the chair, Bollhalder competed in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. In WA, Bollhalder won the King of the Cross at Southern Cross and Western Classic at Noble Falls.
Emil’s EML Model
King of the Cross
Western Classic
Brockhausen, josef and rebele, hubert - Germany
1985
German Sidecarcross Champions Jo Brockausen and Hubert Rebele toured Australia in 1985. The three-times runner-up World Champions competed in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. In WA, they won the Western Classic at Rockingham on a brand new lightweight Honda VMC 2-stroke. This machine did not arrive in time for Southern Cross.
King of the Cross
Western Classic
International riders in the Australian Grand Prix events and World Motocross of Nations
Click on programs to see International riders
1992 Motocross des Nations, Manjimup (WA)
1993 World 125cc Grand Prix, Manjimup (WA)
2000 world 500cc grand prix, broadford (VIC)
2001 world 125, 250, 500cc grand prix, broadford (VIC)
