P
erhaps we’ll see the next big thing on the
dirt bike scene emerging at the NZ Mini MX
Champs in Hawke’s Bay on the weekend
of October 5-6. This has been the case in the
past, with such individuals as current leading
senior grade riders like international star Josiah
Natzke, from Tauranga, Mangakino’s Maximus
Purvis, Ngatea’s Ben Broad, Feilding’s Tony
Cvitanovich, Cambridge’s Ashton Grey and
Te Puke’s Jordan Milsom, to name just a few,
all able to trace their beginnings to the mini
motocross ranks.
International pathways can certainly begin at
the mini nationals and no doubt this year will
be no different.
Riders aged between four and 11 – and riding
bikes with engine capacities anywhere between
50cc and 112cc – head into battle when the
Hawke’s Bay Motorcycle Club hosts the two-day
2019 Mini Nationals at the Ngaruroro Raceway,
at Mere Road in Fernhill, on the outskirts of
Hastings.
This season the championships are sponsored
by Un4Seen Decals, and the track that’s been
provided is sure to test and/or delight these
most talented young racers.
Many of the superstars from the premier 9-11
years’ 65cc MX class last season have now
moved out of the mini ranks, graduating to the
junior competition classes, and this perhaps
creates opportunities for fresh names to be
etched on trophies in that class this weekend.
Egmont Village rider Travis Taylor finished
third overall in the younger 7-8 years’ 65cc
MX class last year and he now steps up to the
9-11 years’ division, perhaps making him the
favourite to win this time around, although
Cambridge rider William Pluck may have
something to say about that.
Pluck won the 7-11 years’ trail bike class last
year and he now steps up to challenge for 9-11
years’ 65cc MX class honours.
KIWI RIDER 23