Motocross madness taking teen to the top
A motocross-mad teen from Taihape is launching sky-high toward a career doing what he loves.
Hayden Smith, 16, has traded in his school books to move to Auckland to be closer to his teammates in the New Zealand motocross team.
He finished at Wanganui Collegiate in March and is now riding every chance he gets. He has also taken on a trade, starting a building apprenticeship.
‘‘I’d like to get qualified and to see what motocross brings me.
‘‘All the kids want to go to university and study, but I reckon more people should get into a trade. You’re getting paid while you’re learning.’’
Working hard on the building site has the side benefit of building up cardio, he says. After work and in his spare time, he’s out riding Auckland’s tracks with team mates, getting in as much practice as he can.
The change from mostly riding alone to regularly riding the track alongside some of New Zealand’s top riders has been a big boost to his skills, Smith said.
Turning 16 this year meant he was eligible to compete in the New Zealand Motocross Championships for the first time. After four heats in February and March, he scooped the win in the 125cc class.
‘‘It was really exciting to win it. I was racing older people so I really wasn’t expecting it, being my first year doing the class.’’
In Auckland, he has begun riding 250cc, and on April 2, two days after his first trial with a 250cc bike, he competed in that class of the first round of Australia’s MX Nationals.
Smith said he didn’t do that well, but was happy he’d made a start riding on higher-powered bikes.
At the NZ Junior Motocross Championships in New Plymouth at the weekend, he placed third in both the 125 and 250cc classes.
‘‘I’m getting more bike time on the 250cc. In the next New Zealand season, I’ll ride both bikes.
‘‘If you want to be faster, you’ve got to work for it. There’s also a lot of natural ability, but if you’re determined and train harder, it’ll come.’’
His dream is to one day compete in the three-person team selected to represent the country at the international Motocross of Nations.