Rountree crash lands on junior podium

HIGH FLYER: Whanganui junior James Rountree gets airborne on his way to third overall in the 12-14 year 125cc class at the Taupo Motocross Festival over labour Weekend.

Whanganui racer James Rountree bounced back from a big practice crash to exceed even his own expectations at the annual MX Fest in Taupo on Sunday.

A member of the highly successful Balance Chartered Accountants Junior Academy team, Rountree nabbed third overall and a podium finish in the 12-14 year, 125cc class against the best the country could offer.

Father Ant Rountree said his son had hoped for a top 10 finish in such illustrious company.

"I thought the day was over for him after the crash in practice, though," Rountree senior said.
However, both rider and bike survived and went on to finish all three races with a formline of 3-3-5 to give him third overall in a fields of 21 riders. More than 350 competed in the two day event.

Junior academy coach, Mount Manganui rider Rhys Carter showed his pupils how it was done to win the MX1 main event on Sunday after winning the first two races and finishing third in the final event. It was enough to give Carter the overall prize.

Meanwhile, Taihape's Hayden Smith was in spectacular form all weekend, winning two of his four races in the 15-16 years' junior 125cc class and finishing runner-up to Mangakino's Maximus Purvis in another.

However, a crash in the remaining race cost him dearly and, although he recovered to finish that race in 11th position, it wasn't enough for Smith to win overall and he had to settle for finishing runner-up to Purvis

"It was great experience for the junior boys. Some have not ridden a such demanding track before with rough straights and big jumps," Rountree senior said.
James Rountree's next event is the Waikato Championships in two weeks time.

Other academy riders placing were:
14-16 junior 250cc
Olly Dennison 12th, Joe Wainhouse 16th, Hunter Gilbertson 18th.

12-14 junior 125
Riki Wainhouse 16th, Campbell Tylee 17th.

15-16 junior 125cc
Tom Gilligan 19th, Lance Barren 20th.

12-16 junior 85cc
Jaxon Watt 30th, Alex Luff-Scott 32nd.