He may be one of the youngest racers in this year’s senior Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championships, but Tauranga’s Logan Blackburn is not one to be easily intimidated.

A class was created just a couple of seasons ago to allow the inclusion of junior racers in the senior nationals and it has given many Kiwi “rising stars” the chance to gain valuable experience without having to relinquish their junior status.

The 16-year-old Blackburn is one of the country’s many rising stars who have gleefully signed up to race in the 125cc two-stroke and under-21 championship classes, the two separate categories raced concurrently but scored separately, although, obviously, only the younger riders are eligible for under-21 class honours.

The young man who is leading both the 125cc and under-21 divisions this season is Waitakere 19-year-old Ethan Martens, the MXDK Rockstar Yamaha team rider himself a product of the system.

Martens has won five out of six races in the series after two round so far – the programme featuring three 125/under-21 races at each round – and he is in a commanding position to win both titles as the series reaches round three near Rotorua this Sunday.

The fourth and final round is set for Taranaki the following Sunday, March 27.

And while few have any hope at all of catching and overtaking Martens with the Yamaha ace a whopping 25 points clear of his nearest challengers, Waitakere’s Shaun Fogarty (CMR Race Team KTM) and Tauranga’s Scott Barr-Smith (Team JS Racing KTM), that only means racers such as Blackburn will be trying even harder than before.

“I’m currently tenth in the 125cc class and eighth in the under-21 class, but there’s a good chance I can move up if I have a good day at Rotorua,” said Blackburn (Bayride Yamaha YZ125).

“This is the first time I have raced the senior nationals and it’s been tough. It’s good for my development though and I’m really looking forward now to the junior nationals (in Tokoroa in April).

“I like the Rotorua track and I expect to do well there,” said the Tauranga Boys’ College sixth-former.

“I hope that one day I can have an international career racing motocross. I’ve had a few injuries in the past that have slowed me down but I’m fully fit now and feeling really good.”

Blackburn still has a few years up his sleeve where he can continue to pursue 125cc and under-21 glory and, perhaps in a couple of years, when he’s the same age at Martens, it will be Blackburn’s name on top of the standings.

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