Motocross

Motorcycling NSW is proud to announce the NSW Junior Motocross Team selected to ride in the 2024 Australian Junior Motocross Championships (AJMX).

AJMX is a showcase of the best in Australian Junior Motocross, conducted over a five-day period. In 2024 AJMX will be held in Bunbury, Western Australia from the 24th of September to the 28th of September 2024. Set to be one to remember, the Bunbury Motorcycle Club is preparing for an outstanding 2024 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Competition. The racing will take place on the 1.8km sand-based Shrubland MX Park track, which will provide a challenge for all riders, particularly the whoop section and the ruts in the intriguingly named ‘Soup Bowl’.

The Motorcycling NSW Board has appointed Greg Moss as the 2024 NSW Junior Motocross Team Manager. With 20-plus years of experience in the sport, Greg will be able to offer valuable support and insight to the selected riders. Greg will be attending AJMX and will be there to help any of the selected riders throughout the duration of the event along with also assisting riders in other areas leading up to AJMX.

The riders have been selected in the following classes based on their performances at the 2024 NSW Motocross State Titles. They will have the opportunity to represent NSW in the Interstate Challenge at AJMX

Riders

Division 2  50cc 

Harrison Rex

Mason Ryan*

 

65cc  7- u/10 yrs 

Ollie Cale

Stella Harding

 

65cc 10-u/12 yrs 

Blake Bohannon

Kye Sproule

 

85cc 9-u/12 yrs 

Liam Millard  

Oli Chandler

 

Girls 85cc /150cc 4st 

Mia Kazzi*

Mia Cameron

 

Girls up to 250cc  13-u/ 16 yrs 

Claire Pollard

Tabitha Newcomb*

 

85cc150cc 13- u/16 yrs 

Seth Thomas

Heath Davy

 

125cc 13-u/16 yrs 

Jack Deveson 

Max Compton

 

250cc 13-u/ 16 yrs 

Drew Kremer

Riley Burgess*

 

Wild Card Selection

Archie Black

Eliza Dennis

 

*The following riders were selected but unfortunately will not be riding at AJMX this year:

 

Motorcycling NSW would once again like to congratulate all NSW riders who will ride at the 2024 Australian Junior Motocross Championships.

Tao learn more about AJMX, please click here.

A key element of our sport’s success is the growing cohort of officials who prepare, run and manage our various events. And among the most reputed and respected officials in our state is next in our feature series of National Volunteer Week – Mark Thompson. Here’s what we learnt from him about his spectacular career built on his hard work and passion for all things motorcycling. 

What are some of your earliest memories of volunteering in motorcycling? What inspired you to get started?

I don’t think my situation was any different to any other official when I first started.

My son Ben wanted to race motocross at the age of 5. Our first event was at the Canobolas Motorcycle Club and at the riders briefing, the then president stood up and said that they needed officials for the club and sport to continue. I thought about it for a few weeks and decided that if Ben was going to race, I would do what I could to back him up. I figured we would be around for a while, so I volunteered. The club accepted and I went to Canberra for my first Clerk of Course training on the Saturday, and then on the Sunday, we did the Steward’s course.

I was quite nervous about the whole thing. After I had completed my first training in Canberra within a very short period, I was standing up in front of the club delivering my first rider’s brief. I was very fortunate to have a very good mentor in Richard Shearing- he was the club Steward at the time. I learned a lot from him in those early days.

As Ben’s motorcycling skills got better, we started Enduro as well,  travelling to other clubs every Sunday. Panorama, Dubbo, Lower Mountains, and Forbes were on a rotating roster.

When we joined each club, the race secretary would ask if we could flag and or be an official. Once they worked out that I was a Clerk of Course it didn’t take long, where I was officiating at those clubs as well.

After several years of this, I was asked by Maree Kirby from the MX commission if I would like to be an assistant Clerk of Course at the MNSW State titles. I did this for a few years until the then Clerk needed to step down.  MNSW asked me if I could take on that role. I then had to go and do a Level 3 course. After the theory part of the course was completed, I had to be a Clerk of Course at 3 events that MNSW appointed me to. At these three meetings, I was assessed for my capability of being a Level 3. I remained Clerk of Course for a few years, working with the Steward Derrek Poole. This period was a massive learning curve, Derrek and I worked closely and supported each other in our roles. When Derrek stepped down from the position of Steward, MNSW asked me to switch to Steward. I then applied to become a level 4.

I am still the MNSW Motocross State Titles Steward today.

I was given the opportunity to be the Clerk Of Course from Motorcycling Australia at Canberra’s round of the PRO MX in 2021 – just what I needed to keep me involved in the sport. Ben had retired from racing; it would have been easy for me to do the same at that time.  This level of the sport has invigorated me to keep going and now in 2024, I am the series Clerk of Course for PRO MX.

PROMX has opened a few doors for me in the past couple of years. I have been the Clerk of course for the AUS SX series for 2022 and 2023. This led me to be involved with the World Supercross (WSX) rounds in Melbourne – which also meant that I needed to be FIM qualified. I now hold a FIM Clerk of Course license and a FIM Super License. I also managed during this time to become a track inspector and trainer. 

It all sounds like I have been busy, although, it’s been awesome. I have had so much fun, I have made lifelong friends, seen so much growth within the sport.  

 

How has volunteering influenced your personal growth outside of the sport? Have you found yourself applying any skills or lessons in your day-to-day life from your experience volunteering?

Absolutely! At the time I was starting out as a volunteer, I was also taking on a new role as a Sales Representative. The skills I was learning as a volunteer were also extremely supportive in this role. Talking to people you have never met before on a level where there is so much emotion considering the time and effort everyone puts in either by them and or their children. The communication skills I have learnt from this sport has certainly helped me with my then role as a travelling sales representative.

These days I work for myself and have a staff of around 35, the communication and planning skills that I have learnt through the sport I continue to use daily.     

 

Any favourite and unforgettable memories of volunteering from all these years?

Spending time with Ben, travelling, camping, cheering, celebrating success, the tough days and the great days.  

Surprisingly enough, some of the most memorable times have come through situations where emotions were extremely high. I have noticed that when the situation is tense, and people are on edge, you form a bond and respect between everyone. It may not seem like it at the time, however, if we follow the process it works. Some of my closest friends in the sport today, I first met in sticky situations.

Unforgettable moments! too many unforgettable moments to mention, although, I will never forget just how far this sport has taken me. The friendships and fun we have had along the way.    

 

Sticking with the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week of ‘Something for Everyone,’ what have you noticed about volunteering in motorcycling that makes it such a fulfilling experience?

Where do I start, so many great moments! I think every step of the way, as I increased my skills was a WOW moment for me. From that very first riders briefing to my first World Supercross, every step has excited me. I have had the best seat in the house to watch some incredible motorcycling racing. Seeing the juniors that were starting out when I was, now riding as champions either nationally or internationally is just so rewarding.

 

What’s one piece of advice you would give other volunteers or others looking to give their time to our sport?

Take the first step, get involved. Don’t just sit back and wonder why things don’t happen, make them happen. Stay true to yourself, get educated and learn the skills you need to be a volunteer.

I can assure you that whatever you put into being a volunteer you will receive back tenfold. Enjoy the journey.

 

A volunteer extraordinaire for many decades now, Maree Kirby has been synonymous with motocross events in NSW thanks to her involvement in running them at club and state levels. This National Volunteer Week, we caught up with her to learn more about her vast experience as well as her motivation to keep going. 

What are some of your earliest memories of volunteering in motorcycling? What inspired you to get started?

My son started in the sport, racing when he was young, followed by my daughter a while later. I got involved in the sport as a volunteer through two wonderful people, Mr Kevin McDonald and Mrs Marian Burrow – working alongside them and learning a great deal. I started with John Warden at the Oberon Motorcycle Club where I was part of the executive committee for a number of years, also getting involved at Lower Mountains Motorcycle Club where I am a life member and club secretary. I have travelled all over New South Wales over the years, volunteering as a key official.

I am currently a member of NSW MX committee and have been able to guide and help other committee members to keep improving our mx events and club over the years.  No events are the same, so at every event you attend, you face different challenges, ensuring that you are always learning and putting your knowledge and experience into play.

How has volunteering influenced your personal growth outside of the sport? Have you found yourself applying any skills or lessons in your day-to-day life from your experience volunteering?

The skills we use in our sport, we also end up using in our everyday. Volunteers teach children in our sport good sportsmanship, respect and understanding of rules and regulations – and in our day-to-day, we try and teach these skills to our family members and people we work with.

 

Any favourite and unforgettable memories of volunteering from all these years?

I have made so many memories and have also made some dear family friends who I still see at race events today. I am in the third generation in some families in the sport, and it is so special to have watched them come into the sport in their early days, while coming in to watch their grandkids now. I have watched riders progress through the ranks to become some of Australia’s elite riders. 

I was asked to become a trainer and assessor for Motorcycling New South Wales, through Charles Sturt University – after passing the same, I am now a certified 4 Trainer and Assessor. Over the years, I have given my knowledge and experiences to a lot of volunteers wanting to become key officials. I get a lot of satisfaction watching new volunteers show off their skills and knowledge of our sport. 

Sticking with the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week of ‘Something for Everyone,’ what have you noticed about volunteering in motorcycling that makes it such a fulfilling experience?

Becoming a volunteer in our sport can be very rewarding and satisfying. You watch children young and old, along with their parents, show us their skills. It is very rewarding when riders, parents and even grandparents come and thank you for your work in making their race special and enjoyable. 

What’s one piece of advice you would give other volunteers or others looking to give their time to our sport?

To anybody wanting to become a volunteer, remember that what you put into the sport, will come back to you in so many different ways. Most of all, enjoy every minute of it and have fun!