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PRESS RELEASE:

HONDA BROADFORD BIKE BONANZA GOES OFF!

The 2010 Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza (HBBB) experienced another day of action and excitement on Sunday before stumps were drawn on a successful second year of the event -- which included the appearance of MX legends Jimmy Ellis and Gary Jones (pictured).

Thousands flocked through the gates on both days of the 2010 HBBB to dust the cobwebs off their old bikes and take to the tracks and participate in what has as a truly special and unique event in the world of motorcycling.

Almost a year of preparation is required to stage an event of this magnitude, an effort which was led by Peter Drakeford on behalf of Motorcycling Australia’s (MA) Museum and Heritage Committee.

“The work really all starts a year before the event,” Drakeford explained.

“When this year’s event is over I need to start putting plans in place for things like accommodation, booking the track and making sure Officials are available.

“All up though, there are smiles all round with this kind of event.”

MA President Ron Kivovitch was fittingly delighted at the attendance and enthusiasm on display at this year’s HBBB event, especially in comparison to the inaugural event held in 2009.

“I think it has gone better [than in 2009],” Kivovitch said.

“I’m very impressed at the amount of people that are here on the Sunday – it’s probably double the amount that were here on the corresponding Sunday 12 months ago.”

Kivovitch also reinforced the point that the 2010 HBBB has been established and put on for the people, and not as an event for Motorcycling Australia itself to necessarily benefit from.

“The whole idea is that is people who have old motorcycles that don’t want to race them, this gives them the opportunity to drag them out of the shed and come ride – and just enjoy themselves.”

Drakeford, the Event Organiser, was thrilled with the overall turnout of riders, spectators and enthusiasts to Victoria’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex over the course of the Easter weekend, and was equally pleased with the decision to stage the Australian Classic Motocross Championships just a week later at the same Broadford venue.

“Having these two bookend events is really a bonus,” Drakeford said.

“We’ve got a lot of people staying from Interstate during the week… they’re going out and spending money in the shire and looking around for different activities, and it just draws the crowd together and reinforces the fun aspect as well as the competitive one”.

“The Bonanza has been a fantastic success and it couldn’t have happened without our fantastic sponsors, so I just want to finish by thanking Honda, Just Bikes Magazine, Aon Insurance, Ballards Off Road, Mitchell Shire Council, Old Bike Magazine and Tahbilk Wines.”

If you couldn’t make it to Broadford this Easter, check out the MA website for all the news, photo galleries and interviews from the weekend atwww.ma.org.au/hbbb.