A
title win in one class and overall
runner-up finish in another
meant Dunedin’s Grason Veitch
(KTM) was the top individual
at the 2018 edition of the
Backflips-sponsored New Zealand
Junior Motocross Championships near
Mosgiel on the weekend of April 21-22.
Veitch won five races from five starts
in the premier 14-16 years’ 250cc class,
comfortably winning that title, and he also
ranked overall runner-up in the 15-16 years’
125cc class, in that class finishing behind
Wairoa’s Tommy Watts (Husqvarna).
And what’s more, the 15-year-old
Veitch, a year 12 pupil at Otago Boys’
High School, still has another year to
run as a junior competitor and so he’ll
be back to defend his 250cc title and
perhaps then also add the 15-16 years’
125cc title to his list of achievements.
“It was a really challenging but enjoyable
track,” said Veitch, who had to deal with
contrasting conditions over the two
days, initially dry but muddy when rain
arrived midway through Saturday, but
then “perfect” conditions on Sunday.
“I had a couple of crashes over the
weekend ... just silly mistakes from
me really ... but nothing major.”
Watts was similarly dominant in winning
the 15-16 years’ 125cc class, scoring five
wins from five starts and, in what has
been a stellar season for the 16-year-old,
it added to the overall runner-up that
he achieved in the national 125cc class
at the senior championships in March.
Keeping with the “maximum man”
theme, Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly (KTM)
was also unbeaten at the weekend,
winning five races from five starts in
the Junior 12-14 years’ 125cc class.
Other class winners were Rangiora’s Cobie
Bourke (KTM, Junior 13-16 years’ 85cc
class); Darfield’s Tyler Wiremu (KTM, Junior
11-12 years’ 85cc class); Leeston’s Kobe
Thoms (KTM, Junior 8-10 years’ 85cc class)
and Invercargill’s Charlie Baynes (KTM,
Junior 8-11 years’ 65cc, support class).
30 KIWI RIDER
BOURKE