Win for Wimmera
Wimmera riders saw success at Horsham Motorcycle Club’s MX Amateurs event at the weekend.
Race secretary Kenny Watts said there were nearly 200 competitors across the two-day showcase at the Dooen track.
“With nearly 350 bikes around the track, most participants rode at least twice,” he said.
“It was really good – the amateurs cater for those riders who aren’t professionals. The event is a chance to give back to them and have them race.”
Mr Watts said Horsham was the only club to structure a team event with riders from all grades.
“We have a team event on the Saturday that is not run like anywhere else. It works really well,” he said.
“Instead of just A Grade riders in the team, it is an A, B and C grade event on three different sized bikes and they get to choose who rides which one, which makes it fair and even.
“The maximum number of teams is 20 and we had 17 in seniors and 14 in juniors, which was great.”
Mr Watts said among the various event classes there were two significant memorial races.
“The Bronte Holland Cup honours a young man from Kaniva who was a member of the Horsham club before he passed away at 21-yearsold,” he said.
“It is raced on 125cc to highlight his best performances and it’s not a bike a lot of senior riders get to race on. This year Corey Watts of the Horsham club won the title and Connar Adams, also of Horsham, came second.
“The other race is the Maggie Stacey Cup, which is a memorial for a junior racer who passed away due to health reasons before her 16th birthday.
“She was so excited to turn 16 and be able to race against other women in the western region, as when you’re under 16 you have to compete against boys and girls.
“This year Emma Haylock of South Australia won.
“It is a privilege for us to be able to hold these races in their honour.”
Corey Watts said it was ‘pretty cool’ to win the Bronte Holland Cup after also winning it in 2022.
“Only one other person has been able to win it twice in a row, so it’s awesome to get my name up on the board again,” he said.
“I don’t get paid to ride, but this will be my 20th year of racing – I have been racing since I was five and it’s something my Dad and I do for fun.”
Watts said it was a bonus to be able to race the amateurs at his home track.
“A lot of good riders come and try to win the Bronte cup, so to have it locally is pretty handy,” he said.
“On the Saturday the club ran a team event, which I was in with my brother and a rider from Melbourne, and we finished third.
“I rode two classes on Sunday, and in the All Power A Grade, I came third.
“Racing is exciting. It gets my heart pumping and is something to do on my weekends.
“This weekend I am off to round two of MX Nationals in Appin near Sydney to race.”