Dedicated motocross riders
Local riders, from left, Robbie Strange, Josh Jenkins, Jesse Morgan, Hamish Harwood and Hayze Shuttleworth. Photo: Neil Wilson.
A small group of dedicated riders make motocross their chosen sport. Following the recent successful meeting at Kaihoka Lakes, The GB Weekly spoke to some of the 112 riders who competed there.
The riders, and in most cases their parents, make plenty of sacrifices to practise and travel to motocross meetings all over the country. Transporting riders and their bikes around often requires specialised trailers and the bikes need regular maintenance to keep them efficient and safe.
Hamish Harwood, who has been ranked in the top few riders nationally since he took up the sport eight years ago, will be making the trek to this month’s national championships in Taupo.
“If I ride as well as I can, I’m hoping to finish in the top five,” he said. “Getting to Taupo will be a bit of a stretch so I’m looking for sponsors who might like to advertise on my gear.”
In the meantime the riders practise at the Harwood farm in Motupipi as often as they can.
“We practise nearly every weekend unless we’re away at a meeting,” said Josh Jenkins. “There’s a lot more to motocross riding than there looks.”
The riders said that their sport requires balance, some physical strength, anticipation - especially at the start - and the right mental attitude. Thinking your way around the course and keeping an eye on the main opposition is important.
“Being a little bit mad probably helps too,” said Jesse Morgan, who is also going to the national championships this month.
Hayze Shuttleworth, the youngest of the Golden Bay riders, explained that the difference between a good race and a bad race can be what happens at the start.
All the riders said that their sport was something they could do for life. They also pointed to Motueka man Josh Coppins, who is a professional rider, a world champion and a man prepared to take chances to be a success.
“He apparently broke 27 bones before he left New Zealand to compete overseas,” said Jesse.
Neil Wilson
