Webmaster posted on April 29, 2009 16:07
There is no shortage of motivations for Josh Bunt when he competes in the ‘Which Bike Motorcycle Wreckers – Newcastle’ NSW Junior Dirt Track Championship at Barleigh Ranch Raceway this Sunday (May 3).
After finishing second in last year’s NSW Championship in both the 125cc 13 to Under 16 Years and 250cc 13 to Under 16 Years classes, the 16-year-old from Seaham is not content with second place this year and wants to come away with the victory spoils.
“The goal for this year’s NSW Championship is to certainly not finish in second place and I am going all out to clinch victory,” stated a confident Bunt. “This is my final year as a Junior and I would really like to come away with at least one NSW Championship before I move up to the Seniors. Finishing second last year and with it being my final year as a Junior are two big motivators for me to achieve success, but so is the fact that the Barleigh Ranch track is regarded as my home track as I live only five minutes down the road.”
Bunt, who rides a Yamaha YZF 125cc in the 125cc 13 to Under 16 years class and a Yamaha YZF 250cc in the 250cc 13 to Under 16 Years class, has been successful in his limited appearances this year by taking out duel class wins in the Casey Stoner Cup.
“It was great to take out two wins in the Casey Stoner Cup, as he is someone that every looks up to and hopefully I can continue my winning form in the NSW Championship,” said Bunt, who is proudly sponsored by the Junction Inn – Raymond Terrace and Coolrighte Air Conditioning – Raymond Terrace. “The NSW Championship is just the start of what is the busy part of our season and over the next couples of months there will rarely be a spare weekend as we will be off contesting race meetings, so hopefully a good run of results in the NSW Championship can help me build up some momentum.”
Without a doubt the NSW Junior Dirt Track Championship is going to be a very busy day for the Spinks family from Cessnock, as they will have three riders representing the family name.
The eldest member of the Spinks trio, Hayden, will ride in both the 85cc 9 to Under 11 Years and 65cc 9 to Under 13 years classes, while Connor competes in the Division 2 50cc 7 to Under 9 Years and the Tyler rides in the Division 1 50cc 4 to Under 7 Years class.
Carrying the best form of three Spinks family members is Connor who just recently finished third on the podium in the Queensland Championship in the Division 2 50cc 7 to Under 9 Years class and he would love nothing more than to add another podium finish to his trophy cabinet in the NSW Championship.
With their father, Steve, being a former Australian Dirt Track Champion himself during the 1980s, it was going to be inevitable that he would encourage his three boys to follow in his tyre tracks.
“Yeah, there was little chance of them escaping the motorcycling bug,” remarks the mother of the three boys, Melonie. “Early last year we got the three boys involved in Dirt Track racing and they absolutely love it. It’s great having all three of them out there on the race track but it does get a bit nerve racking and it gets very busy as all three boys ride in different classes. Dirt Track racing is something we can all do as a family as Steve looks after all the mechanical side of things with the bikes and gives them riding tips, while I organise the boys by making sure they have all their riding gear sorted out, and that they are all fed and have plenty of water throughout the day. Oh yeah, and I do all the worrying too.”
Regardless of their results in the NSW Junior Dirt Track Championship, the Spinks boys just enjoy the thrill of competing, but with their father being a former Australian Champion there is no doubt that their competitive streak will grow sooner rather than later.
The Spinks family would like to say a special thanks to Ray Vickers and Spinks Consulting for all their ongoing support.
There is certainly no shortage of locals competing in the NSW Junior Dirt Track Championship and aside Bunt and the Spinks family there are Bayley and Mitchell James (Lemon Tree) – (9 to Under 11 Years 85cc and 8 to Under 11 80cc 4-stroke classes) and current Australian Junior Dirt Track Champion Joe Morris (Nelsons Plains) - (85cc 11 to Under 13 Years class).
The NSW Junior Dirt Track Championship is going to be held on Sunday, May 3 at Barleigh Ranch Raceway starting at 9am.
Barleigh Ranch Raceway is located just off Italia Road, Eagleton.
Further information can be obtained about the ‘Which Bike Motorcycle Wreckers – Newcastle’ NSW Junior Dirt Track Championship by contacting Hunter Motorcycle Club race secretary Glenn Pickering on 0249 4...