Upsets And Surprises Dished up at the Weekend   25 Apr 2016

Bikesport NZ


APRIL 24, 2016: The Anzac weekend had started as a fairly straight-forward and predictable set of affairs at the annual New Zealand Motocross Championships in Hawke's Bay, but it ended as being one of the most exciting, fickle and capricious of contests.

Taupo's Wyatt Chase dominated both the two premier classes at the Fernhill circuit – the 14-16 years' 250cc class and the 15-16 years' 125cc division as well – early in the weekend and had looked to be the most dominant rider of the weekend across all the categories.

But luck played a huge part on the third and final day on Sunday, handing the 250cc title instead to Ohaupo's Trent Collins.

Chase won 12 of 14 races over the three days – winning five of the seven races in the 250cc class – but his one no-points race, when he fried the clutch on his bike and did not finish, proved extremely costly and he had to give up the 250cc championship to Collins, who proved that consistency counts most when he won just one race but finished runner-up on six occasions and was able to take the title by 12 points from the luckless Chase.

"When I inherited the 250cc championship lead after Wyatt Chase had problems and didn't finish that one race, I knew all I had to do was ride sensibly and I'd win the title. Second or third in the final two races was easily enough for me to take the title," said Collins.

"I finished first equal in this class last year, although runner-up on count-back, so I'm naturally thrilled to win this year. However, I would rather have won it by beating Wyatt properly on the track.

"Consistency counts in this sport and luck sometimes plays a part too. I have also lost titles in this way in the past, so I do feel for Wyatt. I know what it's like."

Meanwhile, Chase was unbeatable in the 15-16 years' 125cc class, winning all seven races, and taking the title by a convincing 25 points from Mangakino's Maximus Purvis.

"It's pretty unbelievable that I didn't manage to win both classes after dominating so much, but that's racing sometimes," said the 16-year-old Chase.

"I can't complain and it was still a good way to finish my last season as a junior racer."

He heads overseas next month to tackle the last four rounds of the European 125 Motocross championships, starting in England, and will then return in August to make his senior debut in New Zealand at the big annual MX Fest in Taupo in October.

Other classes winners at the junior nationals at the weekend were Dunedin's Grason Veitch (KTM, 12-14 years 125cc class); Oparau's James Scott (Husqvarna, 13-16 years 85cc class); Matamata's Brodie Connolly (KTM, 11-12 years 85cc class) and Tokanui's Mitchell Weir (Yamaha, 8-10 years 85cc class).

Leading final standings from the 2016 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships:

14-16 years 250cc class:
Trent Collins (Ohaupo, Honda) 157 points;
Wyatt Chase (Taupo, Yamaha) 145;
Tyler Steiner (Te Puke, KTM) 118.

15-16 years 125cc class:
Wyatt Chase (Taupo, Yamaha) 175 points;
Maximus Purvis (Mangakino, KTM) 150;
Tyler Steiner (Te Puke, KTM) 121.

12-14 years 125cc class:
Grason Veitch (Dunedin, KTM) 172;
Reef Wheki (Hamilton, KTM) 155;
Jesse Te Kani (Tuakau, KTM) 142.

13-16 years 85cc class:
James Scott (Oparau, Husqvarna) 170;
Thomas Watts (Wairoa, Kawasaki) 143;
Zac Jillings (Palmerston North, KTM) 116.

11-12 years 85cc class:
Brodie Connolly (Matamata, KTM) 175;
Ryan Webley (Tuakau, KTM) 150;
Cobie Bourke (Rangiora, KTM) 139.

8-10 years 85cc class:
Mitchell Weir (Tokanui, Yamaha) 154;
Jared Hannon (Cambridge, Kawasaki) 151;
Logan Denize (Kerikri, KTM) 122.

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