Rangiora’s Kimberley Murphy is wreaking havoc on both sides of the Tasman this season.

The South Island teenager climbed on to the podium across the Tasman at the weekend as she placed third overall in the 2010 Motul Pirelli Australian Women’s Motocross Championship at the Albury Wodonga Motorcycle Club.

Former Australian champion Kristy Gillespie , from Albury Wodonga, took the title by winning all four races in the class, easily snatching the title from 2009 champion Tori Dare (Yamaha), of New South Wales.

Murphy, who battled all day long with fellow Yamaha ace Courtney Knight and Jessica Moore (Honda) for the remaining podium position, was naturally thrilled to finally get the advantage.

“I’m absolutely rapt with how the event went for me,” Murphy said.

“When I decided to come over for this event it was my goal to get on the podium and to achieve that was fantastic.

“To perform so well against these girls, who race so fast, was something I’m really proud of,” said the 16-year-old.

The Kiwi rider finished 4-4-3-2 over her four races and ended up only four points behind Dare in the final analysis.

Murphy is the national junior women’s champion in New Zealand, having wrapped up the 12-16 years’ title at Mangatawhiri, between Mercer and Bombay, in September.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com