Junior kiwi racers ready to step up

Taupo's Wyatt Chase (Yamaha YZ125), one of the favourites to clinch a national title in Hawke's Bay this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

It will be all about young racers stepping up to be counted when the 2016 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships blast off in Hawke's Bay this weekend.

A traditional 'nursery ground' for the sport, this year's Altherm JCR Yamaha-sponsored junior nationals should again offer a few clues as to where the senior champions of the future will come from and, if several notable past examples are taken into account, it could also hint at which individuals might even go on to become world champions in the years to come.

World class riders such as Bay of Plenty's Ben Townley, Taranaki brothers Darryll, Shayne and Damien King, Motueka's Josh Coppins, Hamilton's Josiah Natzke, and Otago's Courtney Duncan can all trace their beginnings back to their junior motocross days in New Zealand.

So plenty could be at stake for the future racing careers of young championship hopefuls this weekend.

It won't be so much as stepping up, but holding strong for Taupo's Wyatt Chase this weekend.

The 16-year-old Yamaha ace won the 15-16 years' 125cc class last year. He returns to defend that crown and is unlikely to be threatened.

Ohaupo's Trent Collins is one rider who will hope to step up and be counted this weekend.

He finished runner-up to Ngatea's Ben Broad in the eldest of the junior categories last year and, with Broad now categorised as a full-time senior racer and out of the junior scene, the way is perhaps clear for Honda rider Collins to dominate the 14-16 years' 250cc four-stroke class this time around.

Collins will, however, be wary of the threats posed by riders such as Tauranga's Josh Tredinnick, Feilding's Tony Cvitanovich, Wellington's Adam Moss, Napier's Hadleigh Griffiths, Opunake's Liam Read and Balclutha's Madison Latta, to name a few.

Reefton's Bailey Banks won the 12-14 years' 125cc class title last season and Collins will need to be respectful of him too. Banks is now riding a 250cc four-stroke KTM bike and prepared to "mix it with the big boys" in the 250cc class.

The real battling in this class will probably be for the No.2 spot, with Taihape's Hayden Smith and Havelock North's Ollie Ayre perhaps the most likely candidates.

Dunedin's Grason Veitch won the 11-12 years' 85cc class last year, but now steps up to the 12-14 years' 125cc class and he will expect tough competition from riders such as Palmerston North's Zac Jillings and Tuakau's Jesse Te Kani.

In the various 85cc classes, expect top performances from the likes of Walton's Brodie Connolly, Oparau's James Scott, Christchurch's Marshall Phillips, Napier's Luka Freemantle, Rongotea's Seth Henson, Rangiora's Cobie Bourke, New Plymouth's Logan Kerrisk, Palmerston North's Hunter Miller and Hamilton brothers Dylan and Nick Westgate.

The site for racing this Saturday and Sunday is at a relatively new venue, Ngaruroro Raceway, 160 Mere Road, Fernhill, just outside Hastings, with race action set to begin at about 10am both days.