Words & photos:
Andy McGechan/bikesportnz.com
JUNIOR MX WORLD CHAMPS
KIWIS IMPRESS AT
JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPS
The motocross career of New Zealand’s
James Scott has reached new heights – he
is now the junior motocross world No.7.
The 16-year-old from Oparau was the
best-performer of the Kiwi contingent
at the annual Junior Motocross World
Championships at Horsham, in Australia,
on the weekend of August 25-26. He
qualified 11th fastest on the Saturday and
then lined up the following day alongside
the cream of the motocross world – the
best from Australia and fellow Kiwis too,
as well as top riders from the United
States, Japan, South Africa, Spain, The
Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary,
France, Great Britain, Slovakia, Sweden
and Italy – the track rough, rutted and
heavily watered.
But then life got truly difficult for the
young KTM rider, actually all of his own
doing, as he had a shocking start in the
first of his two championship races in the
premier 125cc class.
From 30th position as the bikes exited
turn one, Scott went on the charge,
powering through to 22nd by the end of
the first of 15 laps. He continued to work
forward and eventually claimed seventh at
the finish line.
He also crossed the finish line seventh
in race two, this time after a thrilling
battle with French European 125cc
Championship (EMX125) leader Thibaut
Benistant, and those combined results
gave Scott the world ranking of seven.
“That terrible start in the first race was
my own fault. I just didn’t commit and shut
off the throttle too soon down the start
straight and everyone went by me,” said
Scott.
“Benistant only passed me right at the end
of both races actually, which I think was
pretty good from me because it showed I
was able to run at his pace. When I go back
to Europe I can hopefully match him again
like I did this weekend.
“This was not really the result I was hoping
for this weekend,” said Scott, perhaps his
own harshest critic.
Scott now heads to Assen, in The
Netherlands, to race at the final round of
the EMX125 series and he hopes “to finish
there in the top five”.
Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly was equally
impressive at Horsham. The 14-year-old
was one of the youngest riders at the
event and was the next best of the Kiwis
in the 125cc class, taking his KTM 125SX to
finish 13th overall.
KIWI RIDER 87