James Rountree best of Whanganui riders at national junior motocross champs

Whanganui's James Rountree finished 8th in NZ at the national junior Motocross Championships 15-16 year 125cc class in Mosgiel at the weekend.

Fifteen-year-old Whanganui High School student James Rountree produced the best result of the city's juniors at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in Mosgiel over the weekend.

Rountree finished eighth in the national junior 15-16 year 125cc class on his Yamaha YZ125.

With over 200 riders competing for seven titles, it was a busy weekend in Mosgiel where the weather failed to play its part on the first day with rain and wind and a temperature of under 10deg.

Racing was called short on Saturday, but Sunday the weather cleared and all five rounds were completed.

Other Whanganui juniors included Oliver Dennison finishing 11th in the 14-16 year 250cc class, just missing out in the top 10. Some small crashes cost him in some races.

Jaxon Watt rode really well going into the last round tied for 10th place in the 13-16 85cc class, but getting a 13th place in the last race pushed him back to 11th overall by only two points.

The youngest of the four Whanganui riders, Jet Ashworth, rode well in trying conditions finishing 12th in the 11-12 years 85cc class on his Italian-built TM 85cc.

There's no rest for the boys as this weekend they will compete at the first round of the Taupo MX series.