Gisborne's Koby Gooch joins NZ youth ministock team for 2025

Gisborne Speedway Club ministock driver Koby Gooch has been picked in a six-person New Zealand youth team to race the Australians in the new year. Photo / May Gooch Photography

Gisborne speedway young gun Koby Gooch has been selected for the 2025 New Zealand youth ministock team.

He will be one of six young drivers travelling to Perth in March to compete against their Australian counterparts.

The Kiwi crew will be out retain the Trans-Tasman Trophy across four race meetings.

The team are Gooch, (59G), George Crawford (971R) from Rotorua, Blake Fraser (93R) from Rotorua, Payton Swannell (16B) from Napier, Boston Joblin (52P) from Palmerston North and Aiden Tidd (191R) from Rotorua.

Koby Gooch can't wait to take on the Aussies in a ministock battle in Perth next year. Photo / May Gooch Photography

Two Gisborne drivers have previously made the Kiwi team - Travis Gooch in 2007 and Hamish Moore in 2014.

“This is an honorable achievement and is something to be proud of,” Koby’s dad Shanan said.

“The whole family are super-excited for the upcoming adventure and we are so proud of Koby for being able to represent Gisborne and his country.”

Koby has been driving exceptionally well lately and is looking to improve every time he races.

“He’s already been placing well this season, winning the Repco Gisborne ministock 100, finishing second at the Napier boy/girl challenge and first in the pairs in Napier,” Shanan said.

Koby was Gisborne Speedway Club’s Youth Competitor of the Year last season.

From a famous speedway family, he started in competitive motorsport at the age of 5 with Eastland Kart Club and moved into ministocks at 12.

“Koby is also racing in the New Zealand Formula First Championship, which is open-wheel circuit racing,” Shanan said.

Teenager Koby Gooch is also racing in the New Zealand Formula First Championship and has been doing well as a rookie. Photo / Pitstopsam Media

“This is his first season competing in Formula First and as a rookie he is loving the new challenges this form of racing is giving him.”

Seven rookies were competing in what had been “hotly contested” racing so far, Shanan said

Further rounds are being held at Hampton Downs, Manfeild, and Taupō in the new year.

“Koby leases a car off Dennis Martin from Sabre Motorsport.”

Shanan said Martin had been in the game for many years and had taught some of New Zealand’s most famous drivers, including now Formula One driver Liam Lawson and Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen.

The 59 car of Koby Gooch in NZ Formula First Championship action. His speedway ministock number is also 59 but does not have any significance. It is simply a number from out of his head. Photo / Pitstopsam Media

Koby had a fantastic team around him supporting him in his racing career, Shanan said.

“It is pretty full-on racing every weekend, but Koby wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The 15-year-old said it “feels great” to make the New Zealand team and made special mention of those who had helped him on his racing journey . . . “Brent Mokomoko, Grant McDonald, Mum and Dad, Porshia (his sister), Nathan Gilroy (family friend), and Nanny and Poppa Laurie (Gooch).

“I would also like to thank all my sponsors who help me and continue to support me.”