Williamson shows raw talent

CHASING GLORY: Wanganui's Chase Williamson, centre. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

CHASE Williamson has gone from racing around the beach at Kai Iwi to making the podium at the national championships in New Plymouth.

The young Wanganui Motorcycle Club member came second in his class at the 2015 KTM & Dragon NZ Mini Motocross Championships, held at Barrett Motorcycle Park at the weekend.

In the 6-8 years' 50cc intro trail bike class, Williamson was part of a trifecta for the Honda riders, with Te Awamutu's Taylor Moir winning the title and Otorohanga's Luke Phillips coming third.

He is the son of Wanganui hockey stalwart Trent Williamson, who said Chase ran hard against the top 10 riders in the country in this class.

"The fastest 10 were there. He's happy as. Now he can move up to the year 7-8 65ccs and we'll see how he goes at them."

With three races on Saturday and two on Sunday, there was an attrition rate in Williamson's class as one contender fell and landed head first, being knocked out and losing four teeth, while another broke his arm coming off his bike.

After Chase Williamson finished fourth in the opening race, his father did a gear change, replacing the sprockets, to stop the bike being so top heavy. The boy then came third, second, third and second respectively in the remaining races to finish second overall in points behind Moir. "That finishes off a good year for him," Trent Williamson said of his son.

Chase was victorious at the MX championships in Wellington, Gold Coast (New Zealand), Wanganui and Manawatu.

Also from the Wanganui club, Jet Ashworth qualified to compete in the 9-11 years' 65cc class in Taranaki, but didn't finish in the top three, with the title being won by Hamilton's Nicholas Westgate.