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Photo - Jesse Wiki:
A great pic taken by NZ's top MX scribe.
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Wiki steps up to new challenge
Hamilton’s Jesse Wiki is branching out this season.
The Kawasaki ace has just turned 18 and is still a relative newcomer to the senior ranks, but he is confident he has what it takes as he steps up to the 250cc class for this season’s New Zealand Motocross Championships, which kick off at Taupo this weekend.
“I love the 250cc two-stroke. It’s bigger and faster than what I have been riding up until now but it’s so easy to throw around and I can’t wait to cut loose on the sandy Taupo circuit,” he said.
After Taupo this Sunday, the series heads to Timaru on September 11, New Plymouth on October 16 and wraps up at Rotorua on November 20.
Wiki was disappointed to finish 13th last season, then racing in the 125cc class, but puts that down to his having an “off day” at round two of the four-event series at Trentham.
The Trentham facility is not on the calendar this time around but the fact that the club-owned, purpose-built tracks at Taupo and New Plymouth are included does bring a smile to Wiki’s face.
“Those are two of my favourite tracks.
“I know I can do better than 13th this year. If I hadn't crashed twice at Trentham, and been run over on one occasion, I could have finished much higher.
“I was knocking on the door for a top-10 result until that disastrous day.”
He acknowledges, though, it won't be easy for him in the bigger bike class either.
“A few guys have stepped up to the 250cc class this year and it's probably the hottest class it's been in years. It should be awesome. I finished 10th in the 250cc-open class at the Queens Birthday meeting in Tokoroa, so I know I'm competitive.
“It's my first year on the bigger bike. It is stock standard and it's just a matter of me getting used to it. I will say this, though, it's confidence-inspiring. It hasn't spat me off yet,” he laughed.
“I’ve been training very hard lately, riding the bike lots. I’m just grateful my employer, W. White Wholesale (a motorcycle accessories company), has been generous to give me time off work to prepare.”
Wiki is one of the new breed of Kiwi riders, keen to follow the winning example set internationally by riders such as John Coppins, Ben Townley and Daryl Hurley and it may be just a matter of time before this young Kawasaki rider from Hamilton takes that next big step too.
Kawasaki Press Release
