The warning bells were surely ringing after Bay of Plenty’s Brodie Connolly executed an absolutely perfect demolition job on his competition over the Labour Weekend.
The 15-year-old from Tauranga was simply untouchable on debut in the junior 15-16 years’ 125cc class during Saturday’s race programme at the big annual MX Fest motocross extravaganza in Taupo, not even raising a sweat as he scored a hat-trick of wins, edging out Mayfield’s Ben Wall (KTM) and Wairoa’s Tommy Watts (Husqvarna) for the top podium spot.
Remarkably, Connolly’s lap times were a full four seconds quicker even than those recorded by the junior 250cc class riders.
He then took his LMC Racing Team Husqvarna TC125 and stepped up to the senior ranks the following day, making his debut in the senior 125cc grade, and again he was unstoppable, once more scoring a hat-trick of wins and this time taking the top podium spot ahead of Rotorua’s Joshua Bourke-Palmer (Yamaha) and Nelson’s Ethan Waters (Yamaha).
Connolly’s lap times on Sunday would possibly have been good enough to see him finish among the top 10 in the senior MX2 (250cc) grade.
To further emphasize just how special was Connolly’s performance at the weekend, it should also be noted that it was also his debut ride on the Husqvarna TC125 bike.
“I loved the bike immediately,” exclaimed Connolly. “I only picked the bike up two weeks ago but I felt comfortable on it straight away. This weekend was my first competitive event on it.
“I didn’t know what to expect of my senior debut and I am now looking forward to racing the senior nationals in the 125cc class (starting in Taranaki in February). And I will still race the junior nationals though too, because I’ve still got two more seasons to go as a junior (before he turns 17).”
The 2019 junior nationals are set for the Manawatu region in April.
“I plan to race the 125cc class at the junior nationals and possibly ride a 250cc bike at that event too.”
Connolly won the junior 12-14 years’ 125cc class title at the 2018 junior nationals earlier this year and now, after celebrating his 15th birthday just two weeks ago, he’s been quick to make the elder 15-16 years’ 125cc class his own too.
He finished 13th overall in the 125cc class at the 2018 FIM Junior Motocross World Championships at Horsham, in Australia, in August.
“I hope to race overseas again sometime but, at this stage, we have nothing planned,” he said.
In other results from the MX Fest weekend in Taupo, Hamilton’s Kayne Lamont won the MX1 class; Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis won the MX2 class; Rotorua’s Cam Negus won the veterans’ 35-44 years’ class; Hamilton’s Darryll King won the veterans’ over-45 years’ class and Taupo’s Jake Tomblin won the Vintage MX class.
Other class winners in Saturday’s action were Dunedin’s Grason Veitch (junior 14-16 years’ 250cc class); Tauranga’s Madoc Dixon (junior 12-14 years’ 125cc class); Rangiora’s Cobie Bourke (junior 12-16 years’ 85cc class); Waitoki’s Cole Davies (junior 8-11 years’ 85cc class); Auckland’s Jack Ellingham (junior 8-11 years’ Pro 65cc class) and Nelson’s Roma Edwards (women’s class).
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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