Motocross

Alex Larwood Leads Yamaha Junior Racing Charge at Junior Nationals

Posted:

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

3:17 PM

South Australian Alex Larwood took victory in the 13-14 years 125 and 250cc classes. Photo: Arryn Minerds

GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing‰Ûªs Alex Larwood has claimed two national junior motocross championships after a long and challenging week at the 2018 Australian Junior Motocross Championship, held in Penguin, Tasmania last week.

The South Australian took victory in the 13-14 years 125 and 250cc classes in a very successful week for the young gun and adds to his national 85cc championship he won in 2017.

Larwood, won the 250cc class with a 28 point margin after the five finals were completed. His results of 1-1-2-2-1 proved his consistency as well as his speed and he took a well-deserved victory and a stunning debut for the 2019 YZ250F.

Larwood, won the 250cc class with a 28 point margin after the five finals were completed. Photo: Arryn Minerds

And while the win on the 250 came with ease, the 125 class was a dog fight until the end with three riders entering the last of the five finals just six points apart. Larwood needed to finish inside to the top three in the final race to take the victory and there were plenty of tense moments in the early stages.

With his Queensland based team mate, Levi Rogers out in front and doing exactly what he needed to do to pile the pressure on Larwood, the young South Australian was in fifth on the opening laps and scrambling to move forward. He moved to fourth and then a rider fell giving Larwood the much needed third place points to secure the championship by just a single point over Rogers.

Levi Rogers finished a turbulent week in Tasmania with a second-place finish in the 13-14 years 125 class. Photo: Arryn Minerds

‰ÛÏIt has been an awesome week and to win both championships is a bit of a dream come true,‰Û

Jake Cannon charged to second place on his YZ65 in the 11-12 years 65cc class. Photo: Arryn Minerds

Another Yamaha Junior Racing rider making two trips to the podium was Queensland pocket rocket, Jake Cannon. Cannon is a ball of energy and the young thrill-seeker charged to second place on his YZ65 in the 11-12 years 65cc class as well as a third place in the 9-11 years 85cc division.

Cannon finished with 3-1-2-5-1 results over the week on his YZ65 and had it not been for some crashed as pivotal times during the week, he may well of landed on the top step of the podium. He led races one and three and fell with just a lap to go in both cases and handed over the race lead but the 11-year old proved he will be a force to be reckoned with in future events.

He also landed in third spot in the 9-11 years 85cc class, which boasted several potential race and championship winners. After comfortably qualifying through to the finals, Cannon took 4-8-2 results to finish third and finish off his week in fine style.

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm pretty happy to finish on the podium in both classes and had a good week down here in Tasmania. I crashed a bit too much, the only races I didn‰Ûªt crash in, I won, so I need to stop falling off.

‰ÛÏThis year is my first time with the Yamaha Junior Racing Team and it was cool to hang out with all the other riders from the other states and race with them.

‰ÛÏThanks to my Mum and Dad as well as Yamaha Junior Racing for all their support,‰Û

Ryder Kingsford took third in the first 13-14 years 85cc. Photo: Arryn Minerds

As mentioned above, Levi Rogers finished a turbulent week in Tasmania with a second-place finish in the 13-14 years 125 class. Rogers finished with 6-2-1-2-1 results and there was some controversy surrounding the opening race that saw Rogers relegated three positions under a yellow flag infringement. Regardless, he kept fighting all the way to the end and should be proud of his second-place finish.

‰ÛÏFirst up, congratulations to Alex for winning both championships. He was fast and consistent all week and that‰Ûªs what it takes to be successful at this event.

‰ÛÏI went into the last race six points down so my focus was just on winning the race and if whatever happens behind me, happens. I was able to get the win but Alex was good enough to get third, so he beats me by one point.

‰ÛÏI will come back next year and give it another go and hopefully I can get a national championship,‰Û