WORDS: Brendan Abel

PHOTO: Andy McGechan

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT CROSS COUNTRY SERIES TITLE, OBVIOUSLY IT’ S ALWAYS GOOD WINNING, BUT HOW DID THIS CHAMPIONSHIP WIN FEEL FOR YOU? It feels really good, I’ m stoked to get it done, especially for everyone who supports me. WHAT’ S YOUR CURRENT RIDE AND WHAT MODS HAVE YOU DONE? I’ m riding a 2026 Yamaha YZ450FX. Some mods I’ ve made are Flying W Suspension, X-Trig triple clamps with PHDS bar mounts, GYTR bolt-on protection parts, an IMS oversize fuel tank, Pirelli tyres with mousse tubes, and Renthal handle bars. HOW DID YOU LEARN TO RIDE? Mainly I was taught by my dad, and I started on a Honda CRF50 and a Yamaha PW80. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF LEARNING TO RIDE? Probably spending time at the Honda Kids Camps with family and friends. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT, BOTH ON AND OFF THE BIKE? On the bike would have to be winning this

second championship. Off the bike it would be being able to buy our own house. WHAT’ S YOUR FAVOURITE DISCIPLINE? I enjoy cross-country the most, but I also enjoy some motocross now. RACE DAY FOOD, WHAT’ S YOUR GO TO? Bacon and eggs for breakfast! WHAT DO YOU THINK MOTORCYCLING IN THIS COUNTRY NEEDS MORE OR LESS OF? I think we need some longer race series but then it gets hard to keep the costs down with a long series. FAVOURITE PLACE TO RIDE? Dirt World at Pukemara, just outside Rotorua. ANYONE YOU’ D LIKE TO SHOUT OUT? Pete from THS moto definitely gave me my first chance to win, so he would be a big part, and now Josh from Yamaha and Liam from Bradley’ s have backed me fully to get this second championship. Kevin from Flying W Suspension has also been huge in helping my development. I’ d also like to say thank you to Pirelli, Leatt, Renthal, Meca Moto, Dirt World Pukemara, and especially mum, dad and my partner, Teresa.

18 KIWI RIDER