Potential but not quite the Podium Yet

Mini MX Nationals 2012

maddix park mx

The 2012 Mini MX Nationals were held over the weekend at the Kapi-Mana Motorcycle Track in Upper Hutt. Saturday was for practice, qualifying & the first races, with Sunday races & prize giving concluding the full on weekend.

None of the local Tauranga riders made the podium this year but for several it was their first experience of a national event and the several top 5 and top 10 performances indicate the potential is definitely there. 

Ben Townley, remember, didn’t always make the top 3 either.

The track was hard pack clay,  rocky, tight and difficult to pass. A couple of showers on the Saturday made it  slippery at times but an overnight grooming and great sunshine on the Sunday made it "sweet".

Kristian Krane (left) competed in the 6-8 Years 50cc Trail class. He enjoyed the experience in spite of a pretty rough first day marked by a number of crashes. Sunday flowed much better and his 5th place in the last race was his best result of the weekend. He finished 7th overall.  Liam Couling was 6th in the class.

Tyler Wiremu (pictured below at the prize-giving) had an erratic 2 days aggravated by bronchitis, lack of sleep through constant coughing, crashes and two races handicapped by limited brakes.

His initial eagerness - pushing his bike to the limit trying to get past 1st and 2nd - led to 5 crashes in race 1 and his worst result, a 10th. However, after some advice re calmness and patience, next time out  he used the entire race to cruise with the top 5 and on the white flag put the hammer down to get in front and get 1st place thus proving he was there to be reckoned with.  Race 3 saw Tyler starting crossed up and sideways into another bike but from second to last place, he worked through the field to get back to 6th.

Unfortunately, after very little sleep, Sunday’s first look-lap  ruined Tyler’s day. Another rider crashed out in front and someone chose to run out in front of Tyler sending Tyler over a bank head first, twisting his neck, breaking his front brake and the clips on his boot. The bike got sorted but the limited braking he now had forced Tyler to “cruise” through the last 2 races.

Tyler finished a hard-earned 5th in his 4-7 Years 50cc Intro MX class. His parents are justifiably proud of his resolve. He wasn’t well and could have opted out after day 1 but he didn’t. He could have stopped after the Sunday crash but he didn’t. Headache, sore neck, scoffing a crunchy bar, he told his mum "Just one more mum, then I'll have a sleep".  Tyler made his own choices and showed just how much he loves his Motocross!  

Sam Meredith (pictured at left, ready to race, with brother Wade) also gained a hard earned 5th place but in the 6-8 Years 50cc MX class. Due to a lack of clarity of the actual procedures to follow, Sam missed his pick of the gate and was forced to start way outside the best lines in race 1 and had no chance of a good start. It cost him significantly. However his results were consistent, including two 4th places.  He was a little disappointed not to be on the podium but was happy to have beaten all his usual competition.  Three of the riders ahead of him were from the South island and the 4th was ridng on his own home track.

Wade Meredith only turned 7 at the end of July but also rode consistently, in the same class as his older brother, for a very well deserved 17th place in a  large field of riders. "I'm gonna get last" he had bemoaned before the event so was absolutely rapt with his result.

Madoc Dixon (Whakatane) finished 13th in the 7-8 Years 65cc and Shelby Catley was 6th in the 7-11 Years Trail.

Jacob Hunt turned 9 on the day before the Nationals began. This meant he unfortunately had to move up an age group and ride against 42 others  in the highly competitive  9-11 Years 65cc class.  Jacob finished a creditable 22nd. He struggled with starts, still not confident after a recent traumatic incident.  He also had a massive crash in his first race, flying off the side of a jump. His 30th place in that race lowered his overall result by several places.

The riders may, in general, have enjoyed the weekend but for some parents, it was “an absolute shambles”. Complaints included an “electronic timing system that failed miserably with many kids and families being unsure (and in many cases certain) of in-accurate lap scoring”, plus a riders’ briefing that 1. emphasized the new unused MNZ penalty book and 2. left people unaware of actual procedures to follow.  

However, this was a "national event" so there was a bit more pressure, tension and nerves than on an ordinary club day or even a North Island champs, particularly on the first day. On the second day, it was more relaxing, the kids knew the track better and there were fewer accidents so overall, it was a good event.  The parents, themselves, were thanked by the organizers for their positive, fair play attitude and their helping of all riders and not just their own.

If you missed out on the Mini MX Nationals this year, start saving now. Normally, the event is held in the North Island on alternate years so 2013 will probably be the other side of Cook Strait.

Some results:

9-11 Years 65cc A Grade

1st Brodie Connelly

16th Vincent Andersson

22nd Jacob Hunt 30/19/18/18/19

24th Cole Dalley

9-11 Years 65cc B Grade

9th Leevi Roach

6-8 Years 50cc MX

5th Sam Meredith 7/4/6/8/4

16th Ben Stock DNF/15/10/13/13

17th Wade Meredith 16/16/18/19/15

6-8 Years 50cc Trail

3rd Joe Stock

4th Nicholas Westgate

5th Dylan Westgate

6th Liam Couling

7th Kristian Crane 7/7/6/6/5

7-8 Years 65cc

13th Madoc Dixon

7-11 Years Trail

6th Shelby Catley

Click here for full results.

Thanks to Nicki Blake & Dion Wiremu for the photos.

 
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