Apprentice Aussie chippie nails opening round

Australian Jackson Richardson turned 16 just a few days ago, but he's wasting no time in spreading his wings.
The young Kawasaki rider was certainly a high flier at the New Zealand Supercross Open near Te Puke on Thursday evening.
He arrived from Cairns this week to warm-up for his New Zealand tour with an outstanding performance at the one-off stand-alone supercross in the Bay of Plenty town, winning the 250cc/Lites class ahead of top Kiwis Ethan Martens, of Waitakere, and fellow Kawasaki ace Nick Saunders, of Taupo.
Although currently undertaking a school-based carpentry apprenticeship, the grade 11 (year 12) student may not have to resort to hammering nails as his career option, not when his motocross and supercross skills are shining so brightly.
"I particularly enjoyed my battle with [Taupo's] Brad Groombridge in the first race," said the Fly Team Green guest rider.
"This was a good track, a good crowd and good racing too.
"It's my first trip to New Zealand to race and the Kiwis certainly were fast. I think they surprised me a bit at the start of the evening and I had to step it up a bit."
Richardson will race at round two of the Backflips New Zealand Supercross Championships at Taupo tomorrow afternoon and then also race at the two rounds that follow in the South Island.