The superstars of the future were certainly on show at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships at Leeston, near Christchurch, at the weekend.
The annual three-day junior event has so often proven to be a crucial starting point for many young New Zealand racers who possess great talent, fierce drive and international ambitions.
An impressive number of individuals have in the past progressed from the junior championships to later go on and become New Zealand champions in the senior ranks, to winning national titles in other countries or, even more remarkably, to clinch world championship crowns.
Renowned Kiwi riders such as Shayne King, Darryll King, Josh Coppins, Ben Townley and Courtney Duncan, to name a few, can each trace their world-conquering careers back to their junior or mini-bike beginnings at home.
Perhaps this might end up being the case for Auckland’s Jack Ellingham in the near future too.
The 16-year-old from Herne Bay locked away the premier 14-16 years’ 250cc class title at the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in Canterbury at the weekend and so became the stand-out individual at the event.
After an intense three days of racing at the Christchurch Offroad Motorcycle Club’s popular Boundry Creek Road circuit, Ellingham convincingly wrapped up the title, finishing ahead of New Plymouth’s Travis Taylor and Onewhero’s Ryan Foster and on the top of the podium in the 250cc class.
Meanwhile, and Cambridge’s Jack Hazelden and Murchison’s Ryder Solly rounded out the top five in the 250cc class.
“It was pretty muddy on the track on day three, but I had built a 15-point lead over the next best rider at the start of the last race, so I just rode carefully and safely in the end to bring it home,” Ellingham explained after he’d won four out of his five races.
Taupo’s Maz Parkes had impressed early on in the competition, winning the first 250cc race of the weekend, but then mechanical issues twice sidelined him and ruined any chances he had of achieving a top finish this season.
The Junior Women’s 12-16 years’ 125/250cc class was a three-way battle between New Zealand representative Mikayla Griffiths, of Taupō, Whangarei’s Hannah Perris and Manawatu rider Indie Allison.
Allison was able to maintain the consistency to clinch the title ahead of Griffiths, while Perris rode the last four motos with an injured foot, which turned out to be a broken ankle, revealed once she had received an X-Ray. Allison lost her gear lever early in the final moto and had to complete the race with her bike stuck in third gear.
Each category featured five races over the three days, so it wasn’t just riding talent that was required, but also fitness, strength and endurance and, as seen in Parkes’ case, a dose of luck at times.
The other title winners at the weekend were Tauranga’s Ethan Carleton (15-16 years’ 125cc class); Waipukurau’s Carson Carroll (12-14 years’ 125cc class); Taupo’s Connor Feather (13-16 years’ 85cc class); Cambridge’s Nico Verhoeven (11-12 years 85cc class); Piopio’s Case Wilson (8-10 years’ 85cc class); Waipukurau’s Kobe Carroll (8-11 years’ 65cc class).
Sadly, there were not enough riders entered in either the junior women’s 12-16 years’ 85cc or the junior women’s 8-11 years’ 85cc classes to constitute a championship in either case.
It is interesting to note that brothers Carson and Kobe Carroll, Connor Feather, Nico Verhoeven and Indie Allison were all repeat title winners this season, having also won their respective classes at the corresponding championships in Pukekohe last year.
The 2026 event was supported by O’Neal, Baird’s Collision Centre, Forbes & Davies, Action Power & Water Sports, Dirt Xtreme Ltd, Central Machine Hire, Christchurch European, The Pipe and Drain, CMG Motorcycles, Affordable Fences, Alpinestars, Anchor Milk Canterbury Ltd, Tracktion Motorcycles, Morland Contracting South Ltd, Crediflex, BM Contracting Ltd, Que Homes and Motorcycling New Zealand.
© Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
Photo courtesy Derek Morrison, www.derekmorrison.co.nz
CAPTION FOR PHOTO: Cambridge’s Nico Verhoeven takes an early lead in the 11-12 years’ 85cc class at the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships held at the Brookhaven Motocross Training Facility in Leeston, Canterbury. Photo by Derek Morrison.