The 2018 FIM Junior Motocross World Champs are set for a big blast-off in Horsham, in Australia, this weekend.
It has been nine years since this ultimate junior motocross event was held in the Southern Hemisphere – when New Zealand hosted the occasion at Taupo in August 2009 (pictured here) – and so is presented an ideal opportunity for today’s crop of rising Kiwi heroes to take a short hop across the Tasman Sea, get amongst the action and make a name for themselves.
Do the names Matiss Karro, Blake Wharton, Joel Roelants or Dennis Verbruggen ring any bells? How about Jeffrey Herlings, Ken Roczen, Alessandro Lupino or Zach Osborne?
These young men are all former Junior Motocross World Champions and each of them went on from their junior days to rank among the elite of the senior motocross world.
The 125cc podium at the FIM Junior Motocross World Championships in New Zealand in 2009 (from left) runner-up Tye Simmonds, champion Eli Tomac and third-ranked Hamish Dobbyn. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
What about names such as Jordi Tixier, Joey Savatgy, Jorge Prado, Tim Gajser, Pauls Jonass, Brian Hsu and Jett Lawrence? – these too are former FIM Junior Motocross World Champions who now feature at or near the top of the senior scene on the world stage.
Stars to emerge in Taupo in 2009 included American rider Eli Tomac (the man who won the 125cc class at Taupo in 2009 and who is now the leading 450cc rider in the AMA Nationals); Dutchman Glenn Coldenhoff, who is now running with the leaders in the MXGP championships in Europe; Australian Jay Wilson (who won the 85cc class at Taupo in 2009, becoming Australia’s first ever motocross world champion, and who went on to become New Zealand MX2 champion in 2015 and then Australian MX2 champion that same year); not to mention a couple of other men now featuring at the top of the sport, such as Swiss rider Jeremy Seewer and Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis.
Outstanding Kiwi riders at Taupo in 2009 included Aucklander Hamish Dobbyn and Otago’s Courtney Duncan.
Dobbyn finished third overall in the 125cc class in 2009, behind Tomac and Australian Tye Simmonds, and just ahead of another Australian, Luke Styke, with Coldenhoff finishing sixth overall, while Duncan claimed sixth overall in the 85cc class, finishing the event just five points off a podium spot.
Duncan now leads the 2018 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championships, with just two rounds remaining, and she could be crowned women’s world champion in Italy next month.
Otago’s Courtney Duncan, as a 13-year-old in 2009, the Junior 85cc world No.6 that year. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
So you can see how important this weekend’s racing at Horsham, about three hours’ drive west of Melbourne, might be considered. It is perhaps a stepping stone to much greater honours.
Three riders have been officially chosen to represent New Zealand at Horsham this weekend – Taihape’s Hayden Smith, Oparau’s James Scott and Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly – but nine others have arrived to race too, getting there under the own steam – Rongotea brothers Zac and Rhys Jillings; Rangiora’s Cobie Bourke, Darfield’s Tyler Wiremu, Rongotea’s Seth Henson, Waitoki’s Cole Davies, Palmerston North’s Lachlan Barr, Cambridge’s Harrison Findlay and Nelson’s William Harvey.
The crew at BikesportNZ.com wishes all the Kiwis entered this weekend the very best of good fortune.
Meanwhile, the leading riders to look for at Horsham this weekend might include Frenchman Thibault Benistant (currently leading the European 125cc Motocross Championships, with one round remaining), Italian Mattia Guadagnini (currently 3rd in EMX125), Czech rider Petr Polak (currently 4th in EMX125) or American riders Aiden Tijero (the 65cc class winner at this event in 2013) and Max Miller.
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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