Mountain biking: Hamilton, Keegan in top 10

Rotorua's Connor Hamilton (pictured) in Norway with his bike, before taking on the best young downhill riders in the world. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Two Rotorua downhill riders have finished inside the top 10 in their category at the world championships in Norway.

Connor Hamilton, 17, and Keegan Wright, 17, competed alongside the best young downhillers in the world yesterday morning at the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships.

Hamilton finished fifth and Wright ninth in the men's junior category.

Hamilton's father, Dave Hamilton, who is also the Descend Rotorua president, said he was blown away by the top results.

"It is only one race and one run, we thought if Connor got a top-10 or top-15 that would be great."

Dave said it was also Wright's top finish this season at international level.

"That is the best result of his season and he has slowly been getting quicker and quicker."

He said to have two local riders finishing inside the top-five and top-10 was a big deal.

"If you are talking about the national champs - to get fifth is a great result.

"But to go to the worlds, where the Northern Hemisphere dominate, and to mix it up on their tracks, it is awesome."

He said Connor had been seeded in 22nd place going into the official timed run yesterday, and he had produced a great ride to move into first place.

He held first place for a while until the top seeds had their timed run down the epic 2.2km course, moving Connor back to fifth.

His older brother Louis was over there watching him and told his dad he was speechless watching his brother claim fifth.

Connor also had the quickest time through the speed gate in the men's junior category, clocking in at just under 80km/h.

Connor and Wright were the best Kiwis in the junior men's section.

Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi rider Brook MacDonald finished fifth in the elite men's downhill race and Veronique Sandler finished 15th in the elite women's downhill race.

Kawerau's Matthew Walker, brother of Olympian Sarah Walker, finished in 39th place in the men's elite category.