MINI MX TITLES DECIDED

It is likely that a handful of future motocross world champions have just revealed themselves in Taranaki.

New Zealand has a proud legacy in the sport of motocross, producing world champions and international title contenders well beyond any expectations for a country so small and geographically so far from the hotbed of the sport in Europe, and the weekend’s racing in Taranaki showed why this is possible.

The KTM and Dragon-sponsored 2015 New Zealand Mini Motocross Championships event at New Plymouth’s Barrett Road Motorcycle Park was the site of another spectacular display of young Kiwi talent, with riders aged between four and 11 locked in fierce battles on Saturday and Sunday.

Ten-year-old Hamilton rider Nicholas Westgate emerged as cream of the crop by winning the premier category, the 9-11 years’ 65cc class, winning three of his five races to finish the weekend a comfortable 15 points clear of his nearest challenger, New Plymouth’s Jesse Wickham.

Westgate’s twin brother, Dylan, finished third overall in the class.

“This is my second national mini title,” said Nicholas Westgate afterwards. “I didn’t do the nationals last year because it was too far for us to travel to the South Island, but I won the 6-8 years’ 50cc class title in 2013.

“I had a good points lead before the final race and I knew a top-three finish would be enough for me to win the title. It didn’t matter if Jesse (Wickham) beat me in that last race, but I wanted to win it anyway. I certainly didn’t want to let him pass me.”

Meanwhile, it was a totally dominant performance from Auckland’s Cole Davies in the 7-8 years’ 65cc class.

The eight-year-old from Waitoki won all five races over the weekend, romping to his third national mini motocross title in three years. He won the 4-7 years’ 50cc title in 2013, the 6-8 years’ 50cc title last season and was unstoppable again this season.

He said he would now be moving up to race on the “big tracks” in the junior ranks, although he is still eligible to race the mini nationals next season and will head back to the mini competition just for the nationals in 2016 to try to win the 9-11 year’s 65cc crown.

Runner-up to Davies at the weekend was Christchurch rider Kobe Thoms, with Hamilton’s Joshua Waller filling out the podium.

RESULTS:

Leading final results from the 2015 New Zealand Mini Motocross Championships in Taranaki at the weekend:

9-11 years’ 65cc class: 1. Nicholas Westgate (Hamilton, KTM); 2. Jesse Wickham (New Plymouth, KTM), 3. Dylan Westgate (Hamilton, KTM).

7-8 years’ 65cc class: 1. Cole Davies (Waitoki, Auckland, KTM); 2. Kobe Thoms (Christchurch, KTM); 3. Joshua Waller (Hamilton, KTM).

6-8 years’ 50cc class: 1. Seth Morrow (Invercargill, KTM); 2. Riley Chesswas (Inglewood, KTM); 3. Ryan Harris (Invercargill, KTM).

7-11 years’ trail bike class: 1. Cooper Gordon (Taupo, Honda); 2. Blake Lusk (New Plymouth, Honda); 3. Jack Saunders (Auckland, Honda).

4-7 years’ 50cc intro class: 1. Aydan Hall (Whakatane, KTM); 2. Boston Scott (Tauranga, KTM); 3. Lincoln Esplin (Invercargill, KTM).

6-8 years’ 50cc intro trail bike class: 1. Taylor Moir (Te Awamutu, Honda); 2. Chase Williamson (Wanganui, Honda); 3. Luke Phillips (Otorohanga, Honda).

4-5 years’ 50cc trail bike class: 1. Max McDonald (Whangaparoa, Yamaha); 2. Lachlan Findlay (Cambridge, Yamaha); 2. Niko McCrae (Otautau, Honda).

9-11 years’ 65cc support class: 1. Peter Grayling (Hawera, Kawasaki); 2. Blake Knowles (Prebbleton, Canterbury, KTM); 3. Brooke Dalley (Ngatea, KTM).

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