Category: 2023

I was so glad I was cleared to ride in time for TTs because I had missed the last couple due to injury in 2021 and being overseas last year. The track was spread out over a massive section of farmland with ups and downs and a swampy “water feature” and it rained so much in the weeks leading up to this event. The pits were waterlogged and slippery so it was all sorts of chaos before racing started. It was foggy and damp but when the sun came out we had the best view out over the Waikato. We had 5 races over the two days, the track was long and fast and even with an off in the mud I finished about 7th overall. By the end the clean green paddocks were munted and there were hundreds of filthy happy people agreeing this had been the best event yet.

After some down time in a cast and then a moon boot I was so happy to put my Tech 7 boots on today. It rained on the drive to Tokoroa early this morning but nothing was going to stop me getting some gate drops. The rain ended up just being misty all day which was good for the track as it formed up some good lines. My starts were off and so was my speed but with so much time away from moto I didn’t beat myself up too much and had a good day catching up with people.

I was looking forward to doing the next schools event at Patetonga especially with how I was feeling on the bike. Practice went well. I had a good start in race one and was making gains when I hooked my left foot in a deep rut and felt a sharp snap. I didn’t crash and was able to pull off the track where the medic came and collected me. The medics at the track were great. Spending hours and hours waiting at the hospital in pain sucked and I’m in a cast for a few weeks now while my fib heals. Not a bad injury but I have to take a break and repair – got to look after your bones.

After a great day on Sunday out here at Pate we got to do it all again for the last Twilights of the season. The track was mint, the weather was perfect, the sun stayed up long enough for us to get 2 proper races in instead of the usual 3 sprints. I am really enjoying my riding again and my bike set up is exactly how I like it so I’m back to pushing my own limits again. I finished 4th in Jnr 125/250 overall for the series even though I missed a round. As always, massive thanks to the club for running these days and giving up their Tuesdays for us.

Today was awesome at Patetonga. After finally getting a lot of stuff off my chest and out of my head with Dad last week I feel like myself again and I rode how I ride. Race 1 I got a sneaky holeshot from the far outside gate showing it can be done if you commit to it. I pushed hard today in all my races and made an effort to improve each lap by picking better lines and better gears. I went 2-2-3 in 125s and 2-1 in Junior Open. Then once my day was done I got to sweep ride for the Minis on Mike’s 250. It was so cool and I stayed out fun riding with the boys after racing finished.

This weekend is my first schools event as part of a team. I’ve done some of these as a solo primary rider but now that I am at Hauraki Plains College I am part of a bigger team of novices and amateurs. My starts were still off so I didn’t give myself the best race flow although North King Country always forms lots of nice deep ruts to give you many lines to get around riders. There was a pretty epic mid afternoon downpour which washed out parts of the track so we had to ride a cut down track and I had a great wet ride. Our school finished 3rd overall for the day. Not sure where I ranked but it was way off where I know I can be.

We are making the most of the sunshine and getting out to the tracks when we have the opportunity. I slid out during practice and got stuck in the clay so got my token tumble for the day out of the way early. My starts were lacking so I was in mid pack around holeshot corner each race and had to choose better lines to move up. I finished 4th overall for the day, I enjoyed myself and really need to work on my fitness before Nationals.

I had most of the summer off moto since we had family here from Aussie so after a lot of travelling and  sight seeing it was time to get back to work at Patetonga’s Valley Champs. The 125s were put on the senior day and nearly every year the senior day is a total mudder and this weekend was no different. The rain came in hard and it was awesome. I had so much fun, trusting the process and riding it like it was dry. I managed to keep it on two wheels all day and take the top step of the podium, some holeshot cash and a chocolate bar for staying the cleanest.