Case got to know the podium very well in Leeston.
Case Wilson is a young man in a hurry and he’s not planning on slowing down.
The 10-year-old Piopio motocross maestro recorded a clean sweep at the recent New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in Leeston near Christchurch, winning all five races on his Yamaha to become national champion in the 8 to 11-year-old 85cc grade.
After finishing sixth in qualifying, Wilson went on to blitz the field of 18 riders to sit on top of the podium with a maximum 125 points, ahead of Harlen Shore (86 points) and Mason Nicholls (84 points).
“I was a bit nervous, but I knew I could win,” Case said.
“I try to get out early to get the hole shot and stay consistent, not fall off, and just go hard the whole race; just get out in front and go. If you’re not in first, you’ve just got to not back off, and stay with that first rider, and once you get a chance, you pass them.”
Case’s pace quickened as the meet went on, race one clocking in at 14:59 minutes and race five – his fastest and final race – stopping the clock at 14:11 minutes.
“I just thought to myself since I had won all my races, I just wanted to win the last one too so I could get the placing and just try not to crash.”
To add to the spoils, he picked up a bronze medal in the 8 to 11-year-olds 65cc competition, notching a second, three thirds and a fourth to finish third overall with 100 points behind 65cc class winner Kobe Carroll (122 points) and Jai Gibson (107 points).
The Piopio College student has been riding since he was three. He has raced for the last three years and is coached by New Zealand motocross number two Josiah Natzki, who he attributes to helping him win his first national title.
“He’s helped me learn technique and says don’t push yourself to the limit to where you’re going to crash; just stay consistent the whole time and stand up and ease the power around corners, don’t keep tapping your throttle,” Case said.
Motocross is in the blood for the young Piopio rider, whose dad Paul Wilson won nine national cross-country titles as well as the legendary Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon in 1998.
Paul said he and his wife Kim were proud of their son’s motocross feats at such a young age and acknowledged their family and the community for supporting local riders fundraise for these events.
“I just love motocross and having a 10-year-old child that loves it now is the best thing ever. We’ve been all over New Zealand and now Case’s got his first national title,” Paul said.
“He knows where he’s going; he’s got goals. We are stoked as parents and he’s happy. He’s got a national title at 10-years-old, so we’re rapt for that.”
The Junior Motocross Championships has long been a launchpad for future champions, with past competitors including Shayne King, Darryll King, Josh Coppins, Ben Townley and Courtney Duncan.
Case got to know the podium very well in Leeston.
