Manjimup 15,000 is set to be spectacular!

Pics: Brett Morgan Photography

The WesTrac Manjimup 15,000 2011 International Motocross meeting, scheduled for June 3 to 5, is set to be a spectacular event, if promoter Willie Thomson has anything to do with it.

“Last year’s event was phenomenal to watch and this year we plan for the event to be even more spectacular. So far Jamie Law and Bryan McKenzie from the UK, along with 21 year old Bryce Vallee from the US, are confirmed as competing in this year’s event. We are still in negotiation with other national and international competitors, and updates will be announced as these are confirmed.” Thomson told me recently.

The Manjimup 15,000 Motocross meeting is known throughout the world, by riders and fans alike and riders of all grades jump at the chance to ride at the annual event which is now promoted by “Dirt High Promotions” and the event has been going from strength to strength of the past three or four years.

The Manjimup 15,000 has established itself as Australia’s richest and most prestigious outdoor motocross competition. It was way back 31 years ago that the first “15,000” was run at the Cosy Creek track, which has over the years played host not only to the “15,000” but also the MX des Nations and the World 125cc MX GP.

In 1949 the Warren Motorcycle Club was born, and five years later it was affiliated with (MAWA) as it was in those days, and that very same Club is still in existence today, although it is now known as the Manjimup Motorcycle Club (MMCC).

In 1980 the now famous Cosy Creek circuit hosted the inaugural Manjimup 15,000. The name Manjimup 15,000 was derived from the original value of the prize money at that time, and was the richest motocross event ever held in Australia. The inaugural winner, Roger Harvey representing the United Kingdom received $5000 prize money and the runner up was local competitor Neville Cutts.

The next Manjimup 15,000 was held in 1983, an event that winner Darryl Willoughby of South Australia described as, “My greatest win ever”. The 1984 and 1985 Manjimup 15’000 was won by Jeff Leisk of Western Australia. The 1986 event was won by Jimmy Ellis, of the USA, who is now a resident of WA, who gained notoriety after being the first rider to clear the doubles (now tabletop), inspiring the naming of ‘Jim’s Jump’. In 1987, the club celebrated Australia’s bicentennial by holding the largest ever Manjimup 15,000 offering $33,000 in prize money. Riders representing Holland, USA and Australia participated in the event won by Craig Dack from New South Wales. He repeated this success in 1988 against an increased international contingent representing England, USA, Sweden and New Zealand.

In 1989 it was another success story, receiving a record 256 nominations that included competitors from Italy, America and New Zealand. The winner of the Manjimup 15, 000 was New South Wales rider Glen Bell. Craig Dack returned as the winner in 1990 defeating riders from Holland and the USA. 1991 was the 10th anniversary Manjimup 15,000 and to this milestone, riders from England, Australia and the USA competed for $36,000. The event was won by Rob Herring from the UK. In 1993 it was local rider Dale Britton who was crowned the Manjimup 15,000 winner.

In 1994 the Manjimup 15’000 International Motocross featuring England vs. Australia was won by Jason Marshall of Western Australia. The 1995 Manjimup 15,000 was taken out by Eddie Warren from USA. After a break in 1996, the Manjimup 15,000 returned in 1997 with international riders from Ireland, New Zealand and Indonesia. The winner was Australian Craig Anderson. The 1998 Manjimup 15,000 was won by Lee Hogan of Victoria who came a close second to Andrew McFarlane in the 1999 event. The very successful 2001 96fm Manjimup 15000 was not only sponsored by KTM but was strongly represented by their riders from Australia and South Africa, other manufacturers were represented with competitors from Australia and New Zealand. The winner was Yamaha’s Andrew McFarlane (QLD), runner up was KTM’s Craig Anderson (NSW) followed by KTM’s Jay Marmont (NSW). Jay Marmont returned with a vengeance on a KTM in 2003 and his efforts paid off winning the event that year. West Australian legend Paul Broomfield finally had his day, after years of contesting the Manjimup 15,000 he won the event in 2004 and the crowd was ecstatic. In 2005 the trophy went overseas by Tim Weigand from USA taking the title and in 2007 Jay Marmont joined the ranks of Leisk and Dack by winning the Manjimup 15,000 for a second time. 2009 the event returned in style thanks to Dirt High Promotions and Suzuki’s Matt Moss (NSW) was the winner. The 2010 winner was Brad Anderson from the UK, and despite expressing a wish to return this year, he is unable to come back as he will be competing in the French MX GP the same weekend.

Jamie Law, Bryan McKenzie and Bryce Vallee are all accomplished riders and are sure to give their best. Law rides for the D3-KTM Team in MX1 and McKenzie is in the LPE Kawasaki Team in MX2. After four rounds of the championship Law is just outside the top ten in twelfth with 105 points. McKenzie is currently sixth in the MX2 championship with 133 points. Vallee is an excellent rider from Escondido, California and rides for Truth MX/MB1/FLY/PanicRev Kawasaki Race team, and spends just about everyday practicing at circuits up and down California. Away from MX he enjoys golf, surfing and playing the guitar; he is also a big supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Current New Zealand champion Michael Phillips (Honda) will be making the trip from the East Coast of Australia where he is currently contesting the Rockstar MX Nationals as will Australian Motocross and Supercross Champion Jay Marmont (Yamaha), Matt Moss (KTM) Craig Anderson (Honda) Kade Mosig (Honda) and West Australian Champions Louis Calvin (KTM) and Michael Addison (Honda).

Any further information including sponsorship and program advertising packages contact Linda Russell via e-mail: linda1@iinet.net.au