It has been an incredible season for the 16-year-old Napier Boys' High School year 12 boarder. Watts has risen up the national motocross rankings in recent months and his many successes on the race track have certainly gained him widespread recognition.
Last November Watts collected the 2017 Wairoa Junior Sportsperson of the Year award and was then called back to the stage to also collect the night's top honour, overall Sportsperson of the Year.
Last month he finished second overall in the 125cc class at the senior nationals behind Mangakino's New Zealand representative Maximus Purvis.
The weekend's junior nationals were his last however he plans to contest the August world junior championships in Australia before becoming a fulltime senior rider.
The modest Watts was quick to praise those working for him behind the scenes – his parents, Bronnie and Graeme, his mechanic Jimmy Ashton, suspension guru Craig Guy, HLR Husqvarna Racing Team manager Howard Lilly and Patrick Stafford, of Husqvarna New Zealand.
Dual-class rider Veitch had the ideal form of consolation for finishing second to Watts when he won the 14-16 years' 250cc title at the weekend. Other class winners were: Tauranga's Brodie Connolly (12-14 years' 125cc class); Rangiora's Cobie Bourke (13-16 years' 85cc class); Darfield's Tyler Wiremu (11-12 years' 85cc class); Leeston's Kobe Thoms (8-10 years' 85cc class) and Invercargill's Charlie Baynes (8-11 years' 65cc, support class).