Only one rider managed to win more than one championship class at the first title meeting for 2024 – the New South Wales Junior Dirt Track Championships.

The State Championship was hosted by Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club at their Loxford Park track last weekend, with their local rider Braxsen Anderson finishing up the event as the only rider to claim two class victories.

The son of former motocross star Danny Anderson, the young talent impressed everyone over the weekend in the 7 to Under 9s classes – but neither of his wins came easy. He had to hold off Cooper Quinn and Tai McNamara, the latter being the son of former dirt track star Marty McNamara, in the 50cc final after he had been top qualifier. Braxsen outpointed Cohen McCosker and Kru Tulloch over the five rounds in the 65cc class.

The meeting marked a return to dirt track racing for a number of riders who are now focusing primarily on speedway – one of them being Cooper Antone from Albury Wodonga who had a win and a second placing in the 9 to Under 13s classes, beating Gunnedah rider Hugo Holmes in one final before Holmes got revenge in the other final, with local Kaiden Lantry and Hayden Duggan from Cowra scoring the third placings.

Two of the other class winners stood out, winning all of their races. Lockie Duggan won all his heats in the 85cc4-stroke Modified class and then won the final as Hugo Holmes added another second place ahead of the impressive Lucy Heaton-New who was constantly finishing ahead of many of the boys. The other rider to score a clean sweep over five rounds was Amelia Kotze in the 4-stroke class for the girls.

Holly Hope-Hodgetts was best out of the start in every round before she was overhauled with Matilda Heaton-New third.

The 2-stroke class for the 13 – Under 16s was decided over five rounds with Queenslander Cooper Archibald, showing the benefit of contesting the Casey Stoner Cup two weeks earlier, scoring four wins and a second placing behind eventual runner-up Beau Bailey with Sam Drane third overall.

A bigger field meant two heats per round and then a final in the 4-stroke class and while it was the same trio on the rostrum the order was different. Sam Drane was triumphant in the re-run final ahead of Bailey who passed Archibald during the race. Both Bailey and Archibald were fortunate to be able to line up in the re-run after both had crashed into the fallen Jayden Holder in the first attempt to run the race.

Holder was battered and bruised, Bailey was moving with difficulty by presentation time and they joined local Max Earl on the injured list, the latter breaking a wrist on the first afternoon.   

Two other classes were not championships but both Matilda Heaton-New and Jed Louis were nevertheless impressive in beating their opposition.

Results

Support Class

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Submitted by Peter Baker    0409 903 196 on behalf of Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club 

Junior dirt track riders will have their first chance for championship glory in 2024 when the New South Wales Junior Dirt Track Championship gets underway this weekend, hosted by the Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club at their Loxford Park track.

Fans should never be deterred from watching junior racing as the riders are not just ‘tomorrow’s stars’, many are already accomplished racers – as evidenced by the quality of recent racing – and many could well be destined for higher honours even on the world stage.

That is one great aspect of watching junior racing – you never know where the riders you are watching will be in five, 10 or 15 years’ time.

A huge entry list has been received including a strong contingent from interstate – many of whom travelled to the Casey Stoner Cup meeting on Easter Saturday as preparation for the title showdown.

Many of the 10 championship classes will be decided over four rounds of heats, a repechage and then a final, while some classes will be decided over five rounds where every placing and every point will be counted toward determining the new champion.

Dirt track racing continues to be a nursery for other forms of motorcycle racing and that is evidenced by the entry of a contingent of teenagers who are now focusing primarily on speedway, as well as one rider who has sampled flat track racing in the USA.

Albury-Wodonga rider Cooper Antone has made great strides in speedway but his most recent dirt track meetings show that he should still be prominent this weekend.

In the 13 – Under 16s, which is the next group to head in to the senior ranks, Beau Bailey from Grenfell, Alex Adamson from Penrith and Central Coast rider Lachlan Russell all had plenty of dirt track success before concentrating on speedway, but they will not have an easy path to success.

Forbes rider Sam Drane has already raced in the US and he is looking to follow in the tyre tracks of older brother Tom who is racing in the AMA Flat Track Championship.

Another rider to watch is Queenslander Cooper Archibald who has been prominent on previous visits, while the rapidly improving local rider Max Earl continues to impress.

The younger age brackets include a number of riders who already have championship successes in their resumes and the poise and confidence of these youngsters belie their age and years of experience.

Among them are some bright hopes among the local brigade with Cohen McCosker and Braxsen Anderson trying to build on previous successes.

A Rider’s Briefing will take place at 9.00am on Saturday with practice to follow and then in to the first round of competition. On Sunday, race action will get under way at 9.30am.

Fans can see the action for a $5 per vehicle entry fee.

——————————————————————————-

Submitted by Peter Baker on behalf of Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club