Each year on Boxing Day the town of Whanganui in New Zealand shuts down its streets and prepares to race. Motorcycle riders from all over the world come to compete against NZ’s finest in this prestigious event. Here is just a snippet of the day from Mad Love Media sponsored rider Toby Summers edited and filmed by Lucas Sudbury of Mad Love Media.
Motul Playday 6 hour Endurance Race - Hampton Downs - 2017
Sunday 12th November 29 teams of 3 riders battled it out for the top spot in the annual Motul Playday 6 hour endurance race at Hampton Downs. Each team had 3 bikes. These photos are of the team M1 Motorsport who ended up in 2nd place. The team was made up of Carl Cox Motorsport sponsored rider Toby Summers on his Kawazaki ZX10 , M1 Motorsport's Alastair Hoogenboezem on his S1000RR and MTF Finance sponsored rider Avalon Biddle on her Kawasaki ZX6R. A total of 314 laps of Hampton Downs was completed in the 6 hours with a fastest lap time of 1.05.018 and a best lap speed of 147.8 Kph over the 2.7k circuit.
MotoGP Phillip Island 2017
Back in 2017, I had the incredible opportunity to photograph one of the world’s premier motorsport events—MotoGP at Phillip Island, Australia. It was a career-defining weekend and a real step into the world of professional sports photography.
Armed with media accreditation, I had full access to the track and media centre while others (my husband and some friends), were restricted to general admission. From the moment I stepped into the media zone—surrounded by top-tier photographers, international journalists, and broadcast teams—I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Over the course of the event, I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most respected MotoGP photographers in the industry, including Gigi Soldano—whose work I’ve admired for years. Gigi even introduced me to Valentino Rossi and captured a photo of us together, which was a personal highlight.
With pit lane access on Friday and Saturday, I was able to document the riders and their teams during the practice sessions.
The weather was typical Phillip Island—sunshine, rain, and wind all in one day—but every moment was worth it. I covered countless kilometres, carried heavy gear, adapted to fast-changing conditions, and walked away with a deeper knowledge of motorsport photography and some unforgettable connections.
Some of the images from that weekend were featured in Kiwi Rider Magazine, alongside a fantastic event write-up. It was an experience that affirmed just how much I love being behind the lens at sports events.
Source: www.madlovemedia.co.nz