Collins to Become One of 'Hogan's Heroes'   2 Feb 2016

Bikesport NZ

Collins to Become One of 'Hogan's Heroes'


FEBRUARY 1, 2016: Trent Collins may have a huge future ahead of him, especially if his dynamic performance in Woodville at the weekend is anything to judge by.

The 15-year-old from Ohaupo, just south of Hamilton, was outstanding in the junior race action at the weekend's 55th annual Honda New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville and he raced among the seniors on Sunday too.

All of which should indicate that the Honda Racing Team rider will be worth respecting when his lands in Australia to become one of "Hogan's Heroes" in the coming weeks.

Collins, a year 11 pupil at Cambridge High School, scored a hat-trick of wins in the junior 14-16 years' 250cc class on Saturday, finishing the day a solid 11 points clear of his nearest threat, Nelson's Reece Walker.

Collins then underlined that unbeaten performance by also winning the joint 125cc-250cc Champion of Champions feature race as well, this time taking the chequered flag ahead of Taupo's Wyatt Chase.

"The first race was a start-to-finish win, but the next one was a bit more difficult. I led that race up until three laps to go when I crashed. I came up short in a rut and the front end of the bike tucked under.

"I recovered myself pretty quickly though and was soon back on the tail of the rider who passed me, Reece Walker. I retook the lead with one lap to go.

"It has been a good summer for me ... I won my class on both days at the annual Honda Summercross (just after Christmas), and I won the Auckland Champs and the Waikato Champs. I'm feeling pretty strong at the moment."

But more was to come on day two at Woodville.

On Sunday, Collins then raced in the talent-laden senior MX2 (250cc) class, joining a full starting grid of 40 elite riders, many of whom were current or former Kiwi internationals.

He settled for 10th overall among this elite company, finishing the day just one point behind fellow Honda Racing Team rider Aaron Wiltshier, from Tauranga, and four points behind the eighth-ranked rider, also a Honda Racing Team star, Te Puke's Logan Blackburn.

Collins now prepares himself racing in the MX2 class at first round of four in this season's New Zealand Motocross Championship in Timaru this coming weekend, before he heads off-shore to race in Australia.

"I will be racing for the BCP Honda team that's based in Melbourne and run by (former Australian champion) Lee Hogan.

"I will race the junior 250cc class in the Victorian State Motocross Championships ... although I will miss the first round of that series because it's the same weekend as the second round of the New Zealand nationals. I will be there for the next three rounds in Australia and then race a couple of New South Wales state rounds as well."

To wrap up this Australian adventure, Collins will then line up at the Australian Junior Motocross Championships at the end of the year.

The Honda Racing Team is supported by Blue Wing Honda, 100% Goggles, Alpinestars, Bell Helmets, Diesel Mechanical, Dr Trim, DRC, EBC Brakes, EZE Race Products, Hinson Clutch, Honda Racing, Matrix Products, Motul, NDub Designs, Picton Auto Electrical, Pirelli, Raceengines.com, Renthal, Supersprox, Talon, TSUBAKI, Twin Air, Vortex Ignitions, Works Connection, Yoshimura and Zeta.

ends

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more