Perfect firsts for Tauranga racer
I loved the bike immediately. I picked the bike up only two weeks ago but I felt comfortable on it straight away
It was a new bike, a new class and a new grade of riding for Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly . . . but it was the same old result. The warning bells were surely ringing for the teenager’s motocross rivals as he executed an absolutely perfect demolition job in Taupo over two days of racing over Labour Weekend.
The 15-year-old was simply untouchable on debut in the junior 15-16 years 125cc class during Saturday’s race programme at the big annual MX Fest motocross extravaganza in Taupo, seeming not to raise a sweat as he scored a hattrick of wins, edging out Mayfield’s Ben Wall (KTM) and Wairoa’s Tommy Watts (Husqvarna) for the top podium spot.
Remarkably, Connolly’s lap times were four seconds quicker even than those recorded by the junior 250cc class riders.
He then took his LMC Racing Team Husqvarna TC125 and stepped up to the senior ranks the following day, making his debut in the senior 125cc grade. Again he was unstoppable, once more scoring a hat-trick of wins and this time taking the top podium spot ahead of Rotorua’s Joshua Bourke-Palmer (Yamaha) and Nelson’s Ethan Waters (Yamaha).
Connolly’s lap times on Sunday would possibly have been good enough to see him finish among the top 10 in the senior MX2 (250cc) grade.
It should also be noted that it was Connolly’s debut ride on the new Husqvarna bike.
“I loved the bike immediately,” he said.
“I picked the bike up only two weeks ago but I felt comfortable on it straight away.
“This weekend was my first competitive event on it. I didn’t know what to expect of my senior debut and I am now looking forward to racing the senior nationals in the 125cc class [starting in Taranaki in February]. And I will race the junior nationals too, because I’ve still got two more seasons to go as a junior [before he turns 17].”
The 2019 junior nationals are set for the Manawatu region in April.
“I plan to race the 125cc class at the junior nationals and possibly ride a 250cc bike at that event, too.”
Connolly won the junior 12-14 years 125cc class title at the 2018 junior nationals earlier this year and now, after celebrating his 15th birthday two weeks ago, he’s been quick to make the 15-16 years 125cc class his own.
Connolly also already has international clout.
He finished 13th overall in the 125cc class at the 2018 FIM Junior Motocross World Championships at Horsham, in Australia, in August.
“I hope to race overseas again sometime but, at this stage, we have nothing planned,” he said.
In other senior results from the MX Fest weekend in Taupo, Hamilton’s Kayne Lamont won the MX1 class; Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis won the MX2 class; Rotorua’s Cam Negus won the veterans’ 35-44 years class; Hamilton’s Darryll King won the veterans’ over-45 years class and Taupo’s Jake Tomblin won the Vintage MX class.
Some other class winners in Saturday’s junior action were Dunedin’s Grason Veitch (junior 14-16 years 250cc class); Tauranga’s Madoc Dixon (junior 12-14 years 125cc class); Rangiora’s Cobie Bourke (junior 12-16 years 85cc class); Waitoki’s Cole Davies (junior 8-11 years 85cc class); Auckland’s Jack Ellingham (junior 8-11 years Pro 65cc class) and Nelson’s Roma Edwards (women’s class).
Brodie Connolly