Simon Crafar headlines Mike Pero MotorFest this weekend

The homecoming of a Kiwi hero will be one of the highlights when Mike Pero MotoFest repeats its celebration of motorcycling at Hampton Downs this weekend.

Taihape-born Kiwi international Simon Crafar will make a rare return to New Zealand as the headline act of the second annual MotoFest.

Mike Pero lauds MotoFest’s emergence as one of the best motorbike events on the New Zealand calendar.

"It's a huge event and nobody will go away disappointed. It was a major event last year and, this year, with ACC involved with their Shiny Side Up programme too, it's going to be like a motorcycling Mardi Gras," he said.

"There will be so many categories of motorcycles that it will appeal to the whole family. We are just so proud to be part of MotoFest, the biggest and most colourful event of its kind in New Zealand."

Motofest promises two days of bike action that would be hard to match anywhere in the world.

The weekend of racing will include exotic and classic machinery, with the Mike Pero Shoei GP and Post Classics an integral part of the programme.

MotoFest guests will include English author, commentator and former British champion Steve Parrish; Kiwi former GP winner and current MotoGP commentator Simon Crafar; Australia's 2003 World Supersport Champion Chris Vermeulen and Kiwi superheroes Aaron Slight, Graeme Crosby, Stu Avant and nine-time former national superbike champion Andrew Stroud, among others.

Record eight-time former New Zealand moto trials champion and twice Australian moto trials champion Jake Whitaker and international X Games freestyle motocross favourite Levi Sherwood will also be at Hampton Downs, not to mention the current crop of road-racers who will be there contest the national superbike championship races.