Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke is causing big problems in the New Zealand motocross scene … for his many rivals.

The Waikato warrior took his Waikato Yamaha YZ85 to another hat-trick of wins this week, this time at the big 39th annual Whakatane Summercross, leading a Yamaha 1-2-3 as he beat Taupo’s Wyatt Chase, and Opotiki’s Dylan Breingan to the top of the podium.

The traditional big post-Christmas motocross in the Bay of Plenty was another huge event with top riders from throughout the country, and from overseas too, lining up to race at the sun-baked track at Awakaponga, near Matata.

But, despite the big turn-out of superstar riders, 11-year-old Natzke was one of only a handful of riders to be so dominant.

“I got the holeshot each time and just didn’t look back,” said Natzke matter-of-factly.

“I have been training hard right up until Christmas, riding at a friend’s farm when the tracks were closed, so I feel pretty fit at the moment.”

He won the first round of the New Zealand Supercross Championships at Tokoroa on December 11 and will be looking to consolidate his lead when the second round hits Taupo this Sunday (January 2).

“I didn’t have much luck in the supercross nationals last year but this year I have really nailed it,” he smiled.

The trajectory of Natzke’s career path has been very steep indeed. He raced a 65cc bike to finish 13th in the motocross nationals in 2007, was placed runner-up on a Yamaha YZ85 in 2008, won the national 85cc title for Yamaha in 2009 and then repeated the performance earlier this year.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com