Now the just-turned 16-year-old, from Warkworth in the upper North Island, is packing his bags and flying to Europe in just over a week, where he will join Team Brouwer, a KTM team based in the Netherlands.

He will touch down in Lommel, in Belgium (population 32,000), where he will spend much of his time riding and training in the deep. Dobbyn will race European championship events and then, if all goes according to plan, Dobbyn will line up in the MX2 class at a Grand Prix event before the year is out.

The mature teenager had always longed of joining fellow Kiwi Yamaha ace Josh Coppins on the world GP circuit and that was always a long-term plan. But, when the opportunity arose this week, thanks to work behind the scenes and the many international contacts of Auckland family friend Jan Doeksen, it was an offer he could not refuse.

“I can’t wait to get over there,” said Dobbyn. “However, because it’s all happened at such short notice, I won’t be able to stay and race the New Zealand junior Motocross Championships (at Otorohanga on April 25-27).”

With his runaway win in the top class at the North Island Junior Motocross Championships near Hastings last week, that means he probably also has to forego an almost certain national title. His parents, as usual, are very supportive of their son’s big adventure.

“My dad (Grant) is travelling with me to see that everything is set up okay for me and then mum (Carolyn) will come across at a later time to see what it’s all about too. “It’s all just come out of the blue and I have had great support from Yamaha in New Zealand.

“I will ride in the European championships and, if I can achieve regular top-10 finishes, then I will gain an entry into the MX2 world championships. Of course, I still have to qualify to line up at a GP but, fingers crossed, I could be racing the GPs before the season is over.

“I’ve just got to prove myself.” Dobbyn’s contract with Yamaha New Zealand and Yamaha Australia continues until the end of 2009.