Grand Prix legend Kevin Schwantz is set to make his first journey to New Zealand to help celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the largest motorcycle gathering in the Southern Hemisphere, the New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Festival in Pukekohe on the 7th and 8th of February, 2009.
The Festival is known internationally as one of the top classic motorcycle events in the world, with a long list of the rarest bikes and the most famous riders attending the event over the past 30 years.
Kevin Schwantz is lauded as the most spectacular rider to ever race in motorcycle Grand Prix, and was one of the most successful with 25 Premier Class wins and 21 lap records. When Schwantz retired from professional racing in 1995, his signature racing number ‘34’ was retired from future GP use, the only time in history this honour has been bestowed.
Festival Chairman Ken McGeady says that this is a rare opportunity for New Zealanders to see the racing legend in his element: “Many kiwi fans have followed his career closely, and they have had a long wait to see him ride in NZ.”
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer his fans the chance to see him ride a classic 1962 500cc Norton Manx in the feature races at the Festival – it’s a real honour to have him here to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the event.”
Also on show for the first time in NZ will be the famous Konig motorcycle that Kiwi Kim Newcombe led the 1973 500cc World Championship on, before his tragic death in an accident during an event in the UK.
The Konig was designed and built in Germany by Newcombe using a four cylinder, two stroke motor originally developed for racing hydroplanes. It is owned and will be demonstrated by Australian Rod Tingate, who was Newcombe’s friend and mechanic.
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