Motocross: Chase sends Aussies warning

Taupo's Wyatt Chase (Yamaha YZ125), won his class at the first of two rounds of the North Island Motocross Championships. Photo / Bridget McGechan BikesportNZ

Watch out Australia, Kiwi champion Wyatt Chase is on his way across the Tasman and he's going to make life difficult indeed for his motocross rivals.

The 15-year-old Taupo star raced at the first of two rounds in the North Island Motocross Championships series at the sand-based Flipp's Motorcycle Park circuit at Himatangi at the weekend and was in spectacular form, winning the junior 15-16 years' 125cc class.

Chase (Total BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ125) finished 3-1-1 in his three races to win the day ahead of local favourite Tony Cvitanovich, who had 1-3-2 results.

Third overall was national junior 250cc champion Ben Broad, of Ngatea, who posted a 2-2-5 scoreline.

Chase scored five wins from five starts to win the New Zealand junior 15-16 years' 125cc motocross title near Te Kuiti in April and then won the 15-18 years' 125cc class at the inaugural Trent Haywood Memorial Motocross near Te Puke in July.

He is brimming with confidence ahead of his trip to Australia for the Australian Junior Motocross Championships near Perth in October.

"The Aussie nationals go for a whole week and I've been building up for that," said Chase, a Year 11 pupil at Tauhara College in Taupo.

"I finished fourth overall over there last year and missed out on a podium spot by just one point in the under-14 125cc class.

"This year I will be in the under-15 years' class and probably up against the same rider who won my class last year, Yamaha's Cody Dyce, but I'm feeling stronger and faster this time around."

The other two riders to finish ahead of Chase at the Australian nationals last season, Wade Kirkland and Cody McMahon, will also be in the Kiwi's sights.

Meanwhile, he has unfinished business in his home country to complete first, with the second and final round of the North Island Motocross Championships set for Hawke's Bay on September 19-20.