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Photo - Yamaha’s Ben Rutten flies through the air in New Plymouth, with nearby Mount Egmont as a backdrop:
Photo courtesy of Andy McGechan:
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BLUE skies have been forecast for the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in New Plymouth next weekend (April 22-24), not just with fantastic weather but with fantastic blue bikes as well. In every class, the blue and white Yamaha brand has staked a claim and, judging on recent performances, is fancied to feature highly among the top placings at the three-day event in Taranaki.
Yamaha's Adam Lawrence won the 125cc, 15-16 years class at the most recent big junior motocross meeting, the North Island Championships in January, and fellow Yamaha riders Jayden Jessup and Matthew Hunt finished 1-2 in the 125cc 12-14 years' category -- all of which augurs well for next weekend's big event. And that's not counting the positive vibes created by Yamaha riders in the small bike classes, particularly Hamish Dobbyn in the 11-12 years' 85cc class and Mosgiel's Nick Sword in the 13-16 years' 85cc class.
The 13-16 years' class could also be a happy hunting ground for Yamaha riders Nathan Clair and Sam Woledge.
While one of Yamaha's bright hopes for junior 125cc honours, Paraparaumu's Jesse Donnelly, has been sidelined with injury, there’s another young man from just down the road who’s likely to step up and take the limelight instead, Ben Rutten.
Paraparaumu’s Rutten (16) is definitely another Yamaha name to watch out for, likely to feature near the head of the 15-16 years’ 125cc class at Taranaki. “I don’t really know how to rate my chances,” said the modest Rutten. “It’s my first year racing in this class and I know my main rivals Mason Wilkie and Rhys Carter will be going fast. But I have beaten them recently, so anything’s possible,” he smiled. “I’ve only been riding for three or four years now but I’ve been training hard and certainly believe I can achieve a top five.”
Rutten turns 17 in May, also signalling a move to the senior ranks - so he’s keen to finish his junior days with a bang. “I’m getting faster every time I ride. I love my Yamaha, it’s so easy to go fast on it.”
Though the best that Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM have to offer will be in Taranaki in force, Yamaha still rates very highly for the top honours. Such is the depth of the blue and white camp that any of a dozen young riders, to many to mention, could bring the silverware back to Yamaha.
