HORNE A STANDOUT AT JUNIOR CHAMPS

It really does not get any better than this ... five wins from five starts saw Raetihi ’ s Karaitiana Horne totally dominate proceedings and easily win her class . And hers was the most dominant performance of all the eventual championships at this three-day event . The 14-year-old GasGas rider was so clearly on command that she could have afforded to finish somewhere well back in the pack in her final outing and still capture the junior girls ’ 12- 16 years ’ 125cc / 250cc class crown . It was her second consecutive national junior girls ’ title after she had taken an 85cc version of the distinctive red GasGas bike brand to win the younger age group title – in the 12-16 years ’ 85cc / 150cc class – last season . In the end , Horne finished a solid 15 points clear of her nearest challenger in Invercargill , Mangakino ’ s Teagan Wilkin-Thom , with Taupo ’ s Mikayla Griffiths claiming the final podium spot , another 10 points further back . Horne also raced against the boys in the 12- 14 years ’ 125cc class , but was forced to settle for fourth overall in this 22-rider division , with Leeston ’ s Kase Thoms winning the title overall on an identical GasGas MC125 machine . “ The track was rough and it was pretty hard riding two classes , especially in the one against the boys ,” said Horne afterwards . “ I was doing faster lap times than most of the boys , but I was still satisfied with finishing fourth against them . “ I won all the girls ’ races by quite a long way ,” said Horne , a year 10 pupil at Ruapehu College in Ohakune .