Watts dominates track
AHorsham rider who dominated an MX Amateurs championship on his home track at the weekend looms as a major threat at state championships this weekend.
Cory Watts clinched victory in various events at Dooen at the weekend, including Horsham Motorcyle Club’s prestigious Bronte Holland Memorial 125 Cup.
He also won the A Grade all-power class and a team event with brother Dylan Watts and his friend Mackay Baker.
Cory Watts also won a pit-bike classic on Sunday under lights.
Watts was part of a 180-strong field of riders who took part in two days of intense Labour Day weekend racing on the Dooen circuit.
Riders provided between 500 and 1000 spectators with often spectacular exhibitions of dirt-bike action during the event.
Horsham Motorcyle Club spokesman and national motocross official Mark Hancock said Watts had been training hard for the past couple of months and was a future leader in the sport.
“He is a qualified coach and I think he is a leader for the next generation of riders,” he said.
Mr Hancock said Watts was different to other riders because of his acute ability to read the track, describing the skill as being similar to a cricketer being able to read how a pitch might play.
“Throughout an event the track is ever-changing – he has an ability that the average rider doesn’t have to read a track and ride to conditions,” he said.
Mr Hancock said Watts, despite riding as an individual without the support of a major company team, produced a performance ‘a class above’ many national riders at the event.
“Cory has put everything on the line for his racing career,” he said.
Mr Hancock said he saw Watts becoming a top-five competitor in Victoria and a top-10 rider nationally, adding he believed he would be favourite to win the upcoming Victorian Senior Motocross Championship starting in Wodonga.
“I am expecting no less than topfive for him. He can take out the Victoria titles this year.”
In other results during the weekend Dylan Watts won the C Grade allpower class, Troy Mora the B Grade class and Brooke Marcus the Maggie Stacey Memorial race.