Chase by name and chase by nature … at least that’s what the motocross rivals of Taupo brothers Cohen and Wyatt Chase often find themselves having to do.

And it was another case of “chase us if you can” at the Taranaki Motocross Championships at New Plymouth’s popular Barrett Road Motorcycle Park last weekend as 13-year-old Cohen and his 11-year-old brother Wyatt shot out of the start gates on their identical Yamaha YZ85 machines.

Cohen Chase scored a hat-trick of wins as he easily dominated the 12-13 years’ 85cc class, while Wyatt Chase finished 1-2-1 in his three outings to dominate the 8-11 years’ 85cc grade.

Other junior riders to stand out at the one-day event at the weekend included Auckland’s Kurtis Lilly (Yamaha YZ85), who dominated the 14-16 years’ 85cc class with a hat-trick of wins, while Otago’s Campbell King (Honda) and Taranaki’s Kade Adlam (Suzuki) shared top honours in the 14-16 years’ 250cc class.

Matamata’s Jacob Kneebone (Yamaha) won the 15-16 years’ 125cc class and Levin’s James Anderson (KTM) scooped a hat-trick of wins in the 12-14 years’ 125cc class.

The two Chase brothers took up the sport only four years ago but already they are regular podium finishers at major events all around the country.

Originally from Golden Bay, near Nelson, the Chase family moved north to Taupo in 2004 because, according to parents Steve and Angela, they “needed to be closer to the hub of the Kiwi motocross world”.

Wyatt responded to that by winning two national titles, the 50cc title, followed by the 2010 junior 8-10 years’ 85cc title in April. He also finished runner-up in the 8-10 year’s grade in 2009.

The brothers also finished 1-2 at the New Zealand TT Championships near Kuratau in July.

The Chase Racing Team is supported by Tony Rees Motorcycles in Whakatane, as well as Total Oils, Dunlop Tyres, Alpinestars, Dragon, No Fear, Proshield, Oxford Pies and Gravity Pulse Studio.

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