The Champs

Day 3 NZ Junior Nationals

Aaron Wiltshier  has reason to be proud; three wins, two on the final day, plus scorching 5 second ahead lap times that even Neil Ritchie commented on, made him one of Sunday’s standout riders. Aaron showed incredible fortitude and determination to fight his way back and gain valuable points on Friday after his crashes. However, because of this disastrous day 1, he missed out on the 15-16 Years 125cc title by 3 points. Cohen Chase takes this honour home to Taupo with Aaron Manning from Te Aroha on the third podium spot.

In the same class, Tauranga’s Seb Still had a frustrating Race 4 when a flat front tyre and the consequent offs left him at the end of the field but a 15^th in race 5 secured him 16th overall.  It was Seb’s first nationals and an eye opener to the depth of speed and abilities in the class.

The podium spots in the 12-14 Years 125cc class went to Josiah Natzke (Hamilton), Ben Broad (Ngatea) and Jayden Turnwald (Onewhero). Tyler Steiner’s bike had had issues on the Saturday which continued on the Sunday. After a disappointing 12^th in race 4, Tyler competed in the last race on a bike loaned by Hadleigh Knight, achieving a 7^th place finish and 7^th place overall.

Jovhann Phillips hung on by the skin of his teeth to his 10^th place overall. There was one point in it. During the last race his father almost had a heart attack. Jovhann passed the guy he needed to pass, then nearly boffed it away.  His arms were still having trouble handling it. But Jovhann’s goal had been the top 10, he had a fantastic weekend and he’s coming away in one piece. What is there to grumble about?

Matt Kenyon has an MRI scan booked for his foot on Wednesday but he still managed an impressive 2^nd and 4^th in today’s two races in the 14-16 Years 250cc class. It’s his last year as a Junior and he was pretty pleased with good holeshots and his 4^th place at these championships. Ahead of Matt were Hadleigh Knight (Taupo), Kairyn King (Motueka) and Nathan Henderson (Rotorua).

Nathan was one of a few riders who rode two classes at the championships. He finished 4^thin the 15-16 Years 125cc class as well.  10 races, 2 qualifyings and two practice sessions, this takes some incredible doing, especially when they are 2 tough classes and it is not that long ago that you had a broken leg in a plaster cast. What an energy level, what fitness it must take to stay “on fire” for three days!

Isaac Broad, Trent Duggan and Brodie Connolly, the podium trio from the 65 cc demo group also rode in the 85cc classes. Brodie was particularly successful taking 2^nd place in the 8-10 Years and preventing a South Island sweep of the age group. Although, just in passing, we must acknowledge a small Tauranga connection. Third place went to Jovhann Phillip’s cousin Marshall, an ex- Tauranga-ite, riding Jovhann’s ex bike.

Click here for Day 1 Report

Click here for Day 2 Report

For Andy McGechan's take on the event CLICK HERE

A bit more still to come for the Day 3 Report  but here are a few results. 

Full results are on MyLaps.

15-16 Years 125cc

1^st Cohen Chase (1/2/2/2/3)  Taupo 111 points

2^nd Aaron Wiltshier (6/4/1/1/1) Tauranga 108 points

3^rd Aaron Manning (3/3/4/3/4) Te Aroha 96 points

4^th Nathan Henderson (4/1/5/6/6) Rotorua 89 points

5^th Dylan Walsh (2/17/3/4/2) Rangiora 86 points

16^th  Seb Still (15/15/17/20/15) Tauranga 22 points

12-14 Years 125cc

1^st Josiah Natzke (1/1/1/1/1) Hamilton 125 points

2^nd Ben Broad (2/2/2/2/2) Ngatea 110 points

3^rd Jayden Turnwald (3/6/7/3/6) Onewhero 85 points

4^th Aaron King (8/7/4/4/4) Otorohanga 81 points

5^th Reece Walker (9/4/5/10/3) 77 Blenheim points

6^th Sean Kelly (6/8/3/6/9) Te Kuiti 75 points

7^th Tyler Steiner (5/3/10/12/7) Te Puke 70 points

10^th Jovhann Phillips (15/12/6/8/11) Te Puke 53 points

14-16 Years 250cc

1^st Hadleigh Knight (1/1/2/3/1) Taupo 117 points

2^nd Kairyn King (4/2/4/1/3)  Motueka 103 points

3^rd Nathan Henderson (2/3/3/4/6) Rotorua 95 points

4^th Matt Kenyon (3/5/6/2/4) Tauranga 91 points

5^th Billy Frank (6/5/1/5/5) Levin 90 points

11-12 85cc

1^st Maximus Purvis (1/1/1/1/1) Mangakino 125 points

2^nd Trent Collins (2/2/2/2/4) Cambridge 106 points

3^rd James Scott (3/4/4/3/3)  Oparau 96 points

4^th Reece Lister (6/3/3/4/2) Hawkes Bay 95 points

26th Trent Duggan Tauranga

27^th Isaac Broad Ngatea

13-16 85cc

1^st Joel Meikle Oamaru 125 points

2^nd Jacob Steel Te Awamutu 97 points

3^rd Bryn Gilbert  Alexandra 90 points

4^th Tony Cvitnovich  Fielding 84 points

5^th Aaron King Otorohanga 82 points

65cc Demo

1^st Isaac Broad (2/2/2/2/2) Ngatea 110 points

2^nd Trent Duggan (1/3/3/3/3) Tauranga 105 points

3^rd Brodie Connolly (x/1/1/1/1) Walton 100 points

4^th Cullen Hurley (3/4/4/4/4) Patea  92 points

10^th Alex Fraser-Brown Tauranga 13 points

8-10 Years 85cc

1^st Grason Veitch Dunedin 119 points

2^nd Brodie Connelly  Walton 112 points

3^rd Marshall Phillips Christchurch 98 points

4^th Jake Meikle Invercargill 87 points

5^th Bailey Hardwidge  Turangi 77 points