Top Mini Talent to Invercargill
NZ mini Nationals 2014
The brightest young motocross talents in the country pack their motorcycles and head to Invercargill this weekend for the annual New Zealand Mini Motocross Championships.
The Backflips Clothing-sponsored two-day event will attract the cream of riders from all parts of Australasia and the host Southland Motorcycle Club is certain the riders and supporters alike will be impressed when they first set their eyes on the circuit dubbed “The Sandpit”, at Otatara, on the outskirts of Invercargill.
The purpose-built circuit will become a battlefield this weekend for the rising stars of the sport, including local Invercargill riders such as Jack Symon, Taylor Weir and Teihi Blair, Dunedin’s Josh Pollock, Greymouth’s Clark Fountain, Napier’s Luka Freemantle and Rotorua’s Hadley Dodunski, to name a few.
Symon is one of the title favourites, having impressed in recent Southern Series motocross events, fending off challenges from Pollock and Blair, but this weekend he’ll have to front up to some of the top talent from the North Island.
Dunedin’s Alex Gilchrist looms as one of the major threats to win the 6-8 years’ 50cc class, but he’ll no doubt have a fight on his hands from the likes of Invercargill’s Seth Morrow and Winton’s Lucas Hamilton, not to mention all the other competitors who will also be pushing hard.
The riders are all aged between four and 11 and riding bikes with engine capacities anywhere between 50cc and 112cc.
The popular 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 Otago’s Courtney Duncan, Queenstown’s Scott Columb, Taupo’s Ben Townley, Motueka’s Josh Coppins, Mount Maunganui pair Cody Cooper and Rhys Carter, Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont or Takaka’s Hamish Harwood, for example.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
