Posts

Promising motocross rider Karaitiana Horne joins Pro Circuit Team Green Race Team

MAY 29, 2023:

Kawasaki Motorcycle Distributors is proud to announce the support of Karaitiana Horne for the 2023/2024 New Zealand motocross season. Joining the Pro Circuit Team Green Development Race Team, Karaitiana will contest race events aboard her Pro Circuit Team Green KX250.

 Alarn Young, team manager says, “We’re excited for Karaitiana to join the team. Karaitiana is a talented up-and-coming rider with a bright future. I look forward to seeing her grow as a rider and potentially follow in the footsteps that Courtney Duncan has paved to the world stage.”

 When asked what Karaitiana’s expectations are for the season she says, “my goal is to train hard, be faster and win”. The 14-year-old from Raetahi already has multiple junior national titles to her name, most recently winning her class at the 2023 NZ Junior Nationals with 5 from 5 wins.

Karaitiana will join team riders Maz Parkes, Flynn Watts, Soren Staudinger, Tyler Brown and Jared Hannon.

The team has already had a stellar first season since establishing last year with teammates Maz Parkes and Flynn Watts winning their respective classes at Junior Nationals. Their senior graded teammates Tyler Brown and Jared Hannon also tasted success with Tyler clinching both the MX1 and MX2 titles at the NZ TT Champs while Jared has been busy on the world stage racing in the USA.

 With the arrival of her KX250, Karaitiana is busy getting acclimatised to her new bike in the lead-up to the season.

Karaitiana has the full support of her family and receives mentorship from her father Richard, a successful racer in his own right. The upcoming season will see Karaitiana jump up from the junior ranks and test her abilities against senior riders at select events for the first time.

Karaitiana is also supported by C4, Nutrition Systems, Stihl Shop Hamilton East, Whites Powersports, Motomuck, Bridgestone, Bike Torque, Chase Works, Got Speed Media, Powerparts Depot, RB Bikes, Forest Service & Training and Fly Racing.

 

 

Kawasaki Motorcycle Distributors parent company acquires new powersports brands

Verhoeven Group Limited (VGL) is proud to announce the acquisition of the New Zealand distribution rights to three renowned brands in the motorcycle industry.

The VGL team pride themselves on being distributors of premium-end lifestyle and leisure brands for the New Zealand market, including Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Nautique Boats, Kawasaki, The Fitness Depot and Asset Resources.

The latest additions of Pro Circuit, Works Connection and Hinson brands to the group are a natural fit for VGL. These brands strive to provide the very best in aftermarket racing products for competition off-road motorcycles, with a racing track record to prove their success at the highest level of motorsport.

Pro Circuit, established by Mitch Payton in 1978, has become synonymous with horsepower. The brand has been celebrated for specialist performance exhausts whilst offering a catalogue of engine, linkage, triple clamps and suspension upgrades.

Works Connection was established by Eric Phipps in 1989, and continues to produce quality products to meet the demands of discerning motocross racers. Specialising in protective and lightweight protective hard parts, Works Connection have been entrusted by factory race teams to ensure longevity and reliability.

Hinson was founded in 1992 by Wayne Hinson and was borne out of a passion for off-road racing. Hinson have developed the world’s strongest clutch components ever since and are proud to have amassed over 400 National and World Championships in 29 years of business.

“Verhoeven Group are passionate about motorcycling, and bringing the best products to New Zealand off-road racers. Racing is something that we enjoy being a part of, but the opportunity to take it to the next level and offer riders the very best in performance hard parts was an easy decision”, commented Shane Verhoeven, Managing Director of Verhoeven Group Limited.

Life Fitness NZ supply the world’s leading Commercial Fitness equipment to gyms throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Nautique NZ are leading the wakeboarding and water ski towboat market in the New Zealand. Kawasaki NZ are the distributors for motorcycles, side by sides and Jet Skis and are supported by a dealer network throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The VGL team are based in Hamilton, Waikato. The acquisition is official from Friday 12 February 2021. An online store is being developed and will be available in the coming months. See www.verhoevengroup.co.nz for updates.

Contact details:

Powerparts Depot
Damien King
027 710 0074
damien@powerpartsdepot.co.nz