Motocross: Chase leaves competition in his dust

Taupo's Wyatt Chase, the top individual during junior racing at the big annual MX Fest at Taupo over Labour Weekend. Photo / Andy McGechan / BikesportNZ.com

Taupo's Wyatt Chase was on form during Saturday's junior race action and also in the senior competition at the big annual MX Fest over Labour Weekend.

The 16-year-old Yamaha rider was untouchable in the 15 to 16 years' 125cc class, winning all three races at Taupo's popular Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park, despite struggling early on with bike settings.

Chase smashed the all-comers Champion of Champions feature race, heading off the top riders in all the other junior classes, including the riders of the more powerful 250cc four-stroke bikes.

"We couldn't get the carburettor jetting sorted out until my third race (on Saturday) and I actually never got a holeshot all day, which is a bit unusual for me," said Chase.

"The last race was tough because I was up against the 250cc riders and I didn't think I'd have much of a chance at the start. To make things worse I got a bad start. I got boxed in and was about 10th coming out of turn one."

Chase passed six riders within just two or three corners and was on the charge for the leaders.

"When a rider ahead of me made a mistake and Tyler Steiner (14 to 16 years' 250cc four-stroke class winner) hesitated, I was able to push through to second, with about two laps to go, and I set about catching the race leader, Trent Collins."

Even though Chase was 10 seconds adrift of Cambridge's Collins, that gap soon disappeared and Chase closed to within a metre of Collins' rear wheel with just over a lap to complete.

"I took the lead and pushed hard, eventually winning the race by about six seconds."

Chase followed through to also win the senior 125cc class the following day, registering 2-1-1 results to head off Dairy Flat's Claude Griffith and Ngatea's Ben Broad.

Chase will enter the senior motocross nationals in in February, as one of the favourites.