Trent Haywood in action before his death.Photo/Alick Saunders

The father of a Tauranga teen killed during a motocross race urged organisers to carry on with the event after his son's death, telling them it's "what he would have wanted".

Tauranga Boys' College student Trent Haywood, 14, died while competing in the Michael Godfrey MX Memorial in Omihi, near Waipara in north Canterbury on Sunday morning.

Police said the teen suffered head injuries when came off his bike on a 30m jump about 11am.

Officers were unable to say what caused the crash and a health and safety investigation is ongoing

Motorcycle NZ president Jim Tuckerman said organisers shut the event down after the teen's death, despite Trent's father Derek telling them to carry on.

"Trent loved this sport with all his heart, so much so that his father asked organisers of the event to carry on after his death. He told them that's what he [Trent] would have wanted but they decided they had gone through enough races so they stopped."

Mr Tuckerman said he wished he could "shut down social media" after comments calling motocross dangerous following the accident.

"There are people saying kids should not be on motorbikes but that is just rubbish and hurtful to the family," he said.

"Safety is always at the top of our minds and we are always reviewing our sport to make it as safe as possible."

Mr Tuckerman said Motorcycling NZ was helping with the police investigation and would run an independent investigation of its own.

"It would appear so far that the organisers did everything by the book," he said.

"Trent was a very, very good rider, he had heaps of potential and this is a classic example of what we in the industry call a racing incident. They are always possible, no matter how good you are. The reality is when you throw your leg over a bike you put yourself at risk.

"But the reality is people put their lives at risk every day, just by getting out of bed. There is more risk walking across Cameron Rd at 8.30am than there is enjoying this sport."

The Haywood family could not be contacted yesterday but a family friend said they were still coming to terms with the loss of their son.

"He was too young, much too young," he said.

"Everyone is just shocked by this, we are used to the odd broken bone in this sport, a few scratches and bruises but not this. Despite what people think, deaths very rarely happen in this sport and not to a great little rider like Trent.

"He was a real talent, could have been an international rider in the future."

Shelley Dean, who runs his Maddix Park motocross park in Tauranga, described Trent as a "cool little guy" who was passionate about motocross.

"That was all he wanted to do, just ride," she said.

Police said all aspects of the incident, including the track, would be investigated.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES

Trent Haywood (foreground) was a talented rider who represented Tauranga Boys' College in many events, including the Rotorua Schools Motocross Challenge. Photo/Shay Hulsebosch

Stickers with Trent Haywood's motocross number will be handed out to family and friends this week in memory of the talented rider.

Aaron Smith, of Epic Decals in Taupo, said he had been sponsoring Trent, 14, for a couple of years and printing "mini plate" stickers with Trent's racing number, 323, on them was the least he could do.

"This way we can have him riding with us. I will send a heap to his club and some to certain shops as a couple of key headquarters so the kids can come and pick them up.

"The stickers are mini plates, 60mm stickers that kids especially Trent's age absolutely love.

"We just want to have his name out there. He's not going to go forgotten, that's for sure."

Mr Smith said there was also discussions about having a memorial race at Taupo's big Labour Weekend races for Trent.

He said it was a sad irony that Trent had been killed in the Michael Godfrey MX Memorial in Omihi, near Waipara, in memory of a rider who died 30 years ago.

Shay Hulsebosch, the teacher in charge of motocross at Tauranga Boys' College, said the team were planning to wear the stickers at their next race.

The team would compete next in Taupo on July 4. They planned on honouring Trent with a lap in his memory.

The school team, which had 24 riders, had got together at the captain's parents' house on Monday afternoon, Mr Hulsebosch said.

"It was really good. They were pretty visibly upset but they are sticking together. Some of them have started making their way to Trent's parents' house to visit his parents."

Many students at the college had been affected by Trent's death as he was a talented rider with friends of all age groups, Mr Hulsebosch said.

"He had been doing pretty spectacular, he did well recently in the Taupo winter series and had been cleaning up in the school competitions."

A classroom at Tauranga Boys' College had been put aside for Trent's friends and classmates to gather in and talk to each other for support.

"It's been busy, unfortunately," Mr Hulsebosch said.

"Amazingly, they're not necessarily always talking about Trent but he pops up in conversation. Many of them have found it hard to walk into the classroom when a friend is missing."

Trent was always there to help a younger or less able rider. Mr Hulsebosch said he would often watch the novice races and tell them when they did well.

Principal Robert Mangan said the college was putting on a tribute for Trent at a full school assembly on Friday. Mr Mangan would speak at the assembly about Trent and there would be a minute's silence while pictures of Trent were shown in a slideshow.