Natzke pushing for placing after slow start

Hamilton 16-year-old Josiah Natzke knows what is required of him as he heads into the second round of the European motocross championships this Sunday.

After a creditable fifthplace finish in the opening round of the EMX125 championship in Italy, Natzke heads to the second round in the Netherlands with podium places on his mind.

In the two races of the opening round at Arco di Trento, Italy, Natzke had seventh and third place finishes after a poor qualifying effort, in which he placed 32nd. ‘‘To be honest, no I wasn’t [satisfied],’’ Natzke said of his Italian efforts.

‘‘Fifth overall is not what I’m over here for.

‘‘I want more but it’ll come. I know what I need to change and it was good to get the first race out of the way.’’

After the poor qualifying performance, an area Natzke said Kiwis were generally bad at, his racing was too conservative. ‘‘I struggled in the first moto, just being first race of the season I think.

‘‘I rode like too much of a sissy. Second race was better, I got up the front early and made passes to get into third. I couldn’t seem to catch the guys in front of me but it was good to see where I belong.’’ Natzke said his bike was perfect and dialled in but his own performance needed to improve at the MXGP of Europe at Valkenswaard on Sunday.

He said the competition was fierce, with a large number of riders capable of a blistering pace. The positive is that Natzke knows he has the speed of the fastest riders, and it is just a complete performance that is required to get on the podium. ‘‘The competition was stiff,’’ he said. ‘‘The guys who beat me in the second moto I had never heard of.’’

The next round of the series is on a sand track, rather than the rocky surface in Italy, and should suit Natzke. He is racing for the KTM Factory Juniors team led by 10-time world champion Stefan Everts.