STAR ON THE RISE | Bikesportnz

Expect to see the name Micah McGoldrick hitting a few headlines this summer.

The CMR Red Bull KTM rider from Rangiora produced a scintillating display of riding at the weekend’s big annual Labour Weekend Motocross Extravaganza in Taupo and, if that is a forecast of what’s in store for the coming months, his rivals should take notice.

He won the national 15-16 years’ 125cc motocross title ahead of fellow KTM rider and fellow South Islander Hamish Harwood at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in Tokoroa in April, but now it seems he has even bigger fish to fry.

The just-turned 16-year-old battled his way to runner-up spot in the junior 14-16 years’ 250cc class at Taupo on Saturday and, despite still being classified as a junior rider, he then followed that up the next day with an even more impressive result, winning the senior national 125cc class outright.

“That was my first time racing against the seniors,” said McGoldrick. “I didn’t get very good starts but I managed to sneak through on the inside in turn one to come out in about fourth spot each time.”

McGoldrick won both his senior National 125cc class races on Sunday, his third outing of the day the all-in feature final where he had to line up against the country’s elite senior MX1 (open class) and MX2 (250cc) riders as well.

In that race he managed 11th overall, earning him a hat-trick of wins in terms of 125cc class results.

“I collided with another rider in the feature final and lost a few positions, so to come back and finish 11th against the 450s is pretty good I think.”

This gives McGoldrick plenty of reason to smile as he now contemplates tackling the senior 125cc nationals in February, including a crack at the national under-21 age group title.

Perhaps the unluckiest rider of all at the weekend was the CMR Red Bull KTM Race Team’s MX1 rider, Hamilton’s Hayden Clark (KTM 350F).

He finished runner-up to eventual MX1 class winner Cody Cooper (Moto City Suzuki RM-Z450), of Mount Maunganui, in the first race of the day but then his afternoon slowly unravelled.

“I crashed in the first turn in race two and then crashed again when someone fell in front of me and I really had to fight hard to get back to fifth.

“I pushed too hard in race three and went down again quite hard. I broke a finger on my right hand and had to pull out,” said the 21-year-old Clark.

“I learned a lot today and I think I showed I have the speed needed to win, so that’s all positive news.”

Full story and more photos in your next issue of KIWI RIDER magazine.

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