Oparau’s James Scott (KTM), building up for the 2018 Junior World Championships in Australia. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Motorcycling New Zealand’s Junior Motocross Pathway to Podium High Performance Programme is up and running.

Coordinated by former motocross world champion Ben Townley, the purpose of the Pathway to Podium High Performance Programme is to develop more world champions.

The programme will provide training and coaching for young riders, not just on the bike but in other important areas like social media, public speaking, strength and conditioning, training and international planning and preparation. Alongside Ben, Pathway to Podium will draw on top NZ riders such as Josh Coppins, who can share their knowledge and experience of competing on the world stage.

Cambridge rider Seton Head (KTM), working hard towards the 2018 Junior World Championships in Australia. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Fifteen riders have been selected for the wider squad and will be coached and mentored through a series of training camps finishing in April 2018. A final squad will then be announced and taken through to selection for the 2018 FIM Junior World Motocross Championship in Horsham, Australia in August.

One of MNZ’s key strategic goals to advance the sport of motorcycling is to work in partnership with clubs and specialist trainers to deliver effective high performance programmes and we look forward to seeing our next champions emerge from this pool of talent.

Riders selected for the Pathway to Performance Squad are:

Hayden Smith

Seton Head

Joshua Bourke-Palmer

James Scott

Thomas Watts

Grason Veitch

Marshall Phillips

Brodie Connolly

Madoc Dixon

Cobie Bourke

Seth Henson

Mitchell Weir

Cole Davies

Kobe Thoms

Kase Thoms

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here