MINI TITLES ON THE LINE

National titles go on the line for the youngest of New Zealand’s motorsports heroes this weekend.

Riders aged between four and 11 – and riding bikes with engine capacities anywhere between 50cc and 112cc – head into battle when the Pukekohe Motorcycle Club hosts the two-day New Zealand Mini Motocross Championships on its popular MR Motorcycles Raceway circuit at Harrisville, just outside Pukekohe, this Saturday and Sunday (November 12-13).

The KTM-sponsored annual event could throw the spotlight on the next Kiwi international superstar, a young rider who may go on to follow in the wheel tracks of world class New Zealand riders such as Taranaki-born brothers Darryll, Shayne and Damien King, Otago’s Courtney Duncan, Taupo’s Ben Townley, Motueka’s Josh Coppins, Hawera’s Daryl Hurley, Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke, Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper, Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont or Takaka’s Hamish Harwood, for example.

Some of the leading riders to watch out for this weekend include Te Puke’s Flynn Watts, Tauranga’s Jakob Bourne, Hamilton’s Jack Coleman, Otorohanga brothers Cooper and Luke Phillips, Kai Iwi’s Jet Ashworth, Whanganui’s Troy Bullock, Eketahuna’s Sheldon Brown, Te Awamutu brothers Taylor and Brendon Moir, Pahiatua’s Cayden Pardey, Upper Hutt’s Jacob Friday, Cambridge’s Harrison Findlay and Tauranga’s Stella Edwards.

A strong contingent is also expected to make the journey up from the South Island, including Christchurch brothers Kobe and Kase Thoms, Invercargill’s Michael Buchanan, Methven’s Luke Watson, Burnham’s Tyler Wiremu and Temuka trio Alexander and Cameron Fitzgerald and Hudson Swete.

Some of the young mini motocross championship from last season have made the transition to the junior ranks, the next level up for competition here, thus beginning their pathway to the pinnacle of the sport in New Zealand.

Natzke, for example, is a fine example of a Kiwi mini motocross champion who went on to win junior and then senior titles.

Natzke was a dominant force in the mini ranks in 2009 and now, seven years later, he is racing internationally at Grand Prix level.

Current leading senior grade riders such as Ngatea’s Ben Broad, Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis, Feilding’s Tony Cvitanovich, Cambridge’s Ashton Grey and Hastings rider Jye Deacon can also trace their beginnings to the mini motocross ranks.