Mudgway a young man in a big hurry

INJURY has not dimmed Featherston speedway rider Jade Mudgway's dream of riding professionally in Britain. But it has forced a season's delay for a young man in a hurry.
Jade, 18, was racing with the New Zealand under-21 team in the South Island when he had a bad crash. Things had been going sensationally well until he hit the wall at the last meeting in the series, which started on Boxing Day.
"We raced a South Island team and we were only one point off doubling their score," said Jade.
The crash was a major.
"I was sliding into a corner then did a wheelie and slammed into the concrete wall. My foot was bent right round backwards and I was knocked out."
The ankle wasn't broken but Jade pulled his ligaments and was in plaster for a week, followed by a "moonboot" for two weeks.
"I got that off as soon as possible, but it still hurts," he said.
Injuries are par for the course in motorcycle sports, and Jade's had his share during the three years he's been racing.
He followed his dad, veteran speedway rider Steve Mudgway, into the sport.
Steve, whose CV goes back to the Penlee track in Masterton in the '70s, is still competing with Jade in A grade. Jade's twin brother Codey races in the B grade and little brother Brady, 11, began racing in the Juniors this year.
Jade first started riding a motorcycle in Levin at age 3, when Steve bought him a 60cc three-wheeler. He set it on fast idle and Jade put in hours negotiating a local mini bike track..He progressed to a four-wheeler (as have all the boys) and a track on the front lawn.
When Jade was 5 or 6, Steve built him his first junior bike, a Yamaha engine in a cut-down frame, and he started riding at speedway, he and Codey, on a 50cc Honda, doing laps at half-time at Palmerston North meetings.
When he was 15 he did his first race meeting at Palmerston North, winning all three races in the B grade. That caused a problem for the officials, who pointed out you can't get a licence until you're 16. His three wins persuaded them to give him a dispensation, and he's gone from strength to strength ever since.
A well-laden trophy cabinet greets visitors to Jade's Featherston home (he works as a motorcycle mechanic in Upper Hutt, but still lives with his parent). He's been third twice in the NZ under-21 series, second at last year's North Island championships, second in the Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Auckland championships. He won the Colin Ultee Tantau Memorial Trophy for A grade riders last season and is currently leading Palmerston North points scorer.
Jade's return from his injury was memorable, with back-to-back meetings in Gisborne and Auckland.
"In Gisborne (the New Zealand GP) I was still very sore, but got third. If I didn't have a sore ankle I would have been second or even first," he said.
He fell again in the first race in Auckland, aggravating the injury. "I told the guys I'd just ride around to get a point in the next race, but I actually won it, beating the guy who was New Zealand champion at the time." He also rode for the winning New Zealand team which took on a World team.
Jade cites Steve as his inspiration, although age and injuries have slowed the father. The year his son started racing, Steve had a bad accident, ripping the nerve in his shoulder. "It's still not right."
"And then another rider ran me over and nearly killed me," he says.
There's no shame in being beaten by his talented young son, says Steve.
He proudly points out that in handicap racing at Palmerston North, Jade can start half a lap behind and win within four laps. Lapping novices at speeds of up to 130km/h on a machine with no brakes can be dodgy, but he enjoys the challenge.
"In 30-odd years I've seen them come and go," said Steve. "I'm probably biased, being his father, but I reckon he's got what it takes for a professional career."
Breaking into the professional ranks won't be easy. The big money is with the English clubs, which race up to three times a week, but they are only allowed one overseas rider and competition for those places is intense.
Simply getting to England is expensive. An International licence costs $3800 and then you have to find a bike, work and accommodation while at the same time trying to impress team scouts. And even if you get a place, there's always some eager foreigner trying to displace you. There are no restrictions on the number of foreign riders in Europe, but then Jade would be faced with learning Polish, Swedish, Russian or some other foreign language.
With Europe off the agenda for now (unless there's a generous sponsor out there somewhere) Jade is considering racing in Australia for overseas experience.
Harold Sargent, of HSR in Feilding, looks after the purpose-built Italian GM engine in Jade's bike and it has never let him down in racing. The Stuha frame is maintained by Robert Thomson, of Palmerston North. Former Martinborough man David Bargh, a former English league rider still active in the sport, also helps out with advice and tips.
Jade has also had a taste of circuit racing, but his heart remains among the cinders. All he needs is that one big break.
All three Mudgway boys raced at the weekend. Jade raced at Napier, finishing second in the Hawke's Bay Summer Classic and then heading to Auckland on Sunday, where he was third in the North island A grade championships.
Codey, just back from major injury, won the B grade in Napier, and Brady was third in the junior summer classic and got a medal for competing in the North Island junior solo championships.