Australia will head into the World Junior Motocross Championships in New Zealand on 15th and 16th of August this year with what is expected to be a crack team with the full support of Motorcycling Australia.
Victorian Mark Willingham will be the team manager with Greg Moss as the team coach. With the selection process coming up with the opening 2 rounds of the 2009 MX Nationals we thought it a good time to have a quick chat with Manager Mark Willingham to see how the preparation is going and what is involved in sending a team to compete in a 2 day event with a 2 race final for 40 riders that will result in two World Champions.
Insider: How did it come about that you ended up being team manager for the Australian Junior Team?
Mark Willingham: Simple really, applications went out for Team Manager and Team Coach, I applied and was successful in being selected by MA as the manager, Mossy was selected as the coach.
Insider: What are the classes?
Mark Willingham: 12 to 15 years 85cc class and 15 to 18 years 125/250cc which spreads junior and senior.
Insider: So who is responsible for picking the team?
Mark Willingham: Myself and Greg have to send through our recommendations to the MA commissions, they have the final say. Those recommendations will very detailed, not only will we be saying why a rider was selected but why others were not.
Insider: Has the team been selected yet?
Mark Willingham: No, not yet. The 85cc class will be the easier one to pick as they are all in the same qualifying race so we will have a clearer indication of speed from that point of view. The older age group will be a bit harder because it will be a mix between different classes/qualifying races that we will have to look at, they won't all be in the same race as will be with the 85cc class.
Insider: Is it a performance based selection process?
Mark Willingham: Mostly.
Insider: So if someone blows up an engine in the first corner they are out?
Mark Willingham: No not necessarily. They all put in applications and all have past history included so we will be paying attention to that as well. They also have 3 races at the round so plenty of chance for a result, if someone had a dnf then 2 great races, we would see their speed in those 2 races.
Insider: Does past history/record come into it a lot?
Mark Willingham: Probably more so if there are two riders who are really close and we needed something to separate them. We would also be looking at off track as well. For example how well they present themselves, their professionalism, Fitness, etc.
Insider: So when are the actual selection races?
Mark Willingham: 85cc run at round 1 of the MX Nationals on the 4th and 5th of April, then the 18 and 19th of April for round 2 of the MX Nationals for the older class. From that we take 12 per class to the AIS (Australian Institute of
Sport) Camp on the 6,7 and 8th of May where we will pick the final 8.
Insider: So what does your role become once the team has been picked?
Mark Willingham: I have already started a lot of it together with the staff at MA. Stuff like accommodation, cars, and getting people and bikes there, a lot of logistical stuff. Bikes are by far the hardest at the moment simply because we don't know who is going yet and what their requirements will be.
Insider: Do you take bikes over or organize bikes over there?
Mark Willingham: Bit of both really, I think it will depend on the riders and what support they have access to both here and over there as to the best way to go about it for them.
Insider: Do you have a role with the riders between picking the team and the actual event?
Mark Willingham: Nothing too serious. It's in the middle of their race season so you can't be in their ear too much. Any training they want will be sorted by Greg Moss as Team Coach, me personally it will be more an organisational role, making sure everything the riders need is there and ready when we arrive.
Insider: There is a long time between the team being picked and the race.
Mark Willingham: Not really, 13 weeks between the AIS camp and jumping on a plane.
Insider: Well as far as someone maybe getting injured or something there is
- there is a lot of racing between now and then.
Mark Willingham: That's true, that's why we are taking 12 per class to the AIS camp with only 8 per class allowed to go to New Zealand.
Insider: So if someone gets injured the remaining four will be reserves?
Mark Willingham: I think there will only be two official reserves with the other two as emergencies.
Insider: So for the laymen out there, or those of us that have not followed the world minibike championship - how many classes are there?
Mark Willingham: Just the two. Next year, 2010 in France, they will be bringing in a third class 10-12yo 65cc, with 2 stroke only across the 3 classes.
Insider: Who pays for all this?
Mark Willingham: This year all 16 riders are mostly funded by MA, the riders will contribute a small amount but the bulk of it is MA supported. Each rider does have to take a suitable adult obviously, that is a cost they have to bear. MA will help out where possible like with group bookings etc but not fund them. The rider themselves are almost entirely funded by MA except for the bike itself.
Insider: Well thanks for giving us a bit of an inside view as to what you're doing and how it's all going.
Mark Willingham: No problem and thanks.
