FRESH from competing in the 2017 Shipwreck Coast 2-Day Open at Warrnambool last weekend, Rosebud’s Chandler Burns is on track to light up New Zealand when he competes in the 2017 New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville on January 28-29.
Chandler, 16, impressively finished second in the A-Lites class in his first senior motocross competition. “It was a good weekend for me. It was going to be real test for me as it was my first senior race and I was racing in A Grade,” Chandler said.
“Saturday started off a bit average after not getting the starts that I wanted, which saw me getting caught behind a few people. I ended up with a 4th and a 6th on Saturday. Sunday was much better as I got off to a good start in the first race and made a quick couple of passes into second and rode a comfortable race in second to finish.
“The second race on Sunday was even better, as I nearly got the holeshot, and was in second for the whole race ending up with second overall for the weekend,” Chandler added.
Chandler has a big year ahead of him as he plans to compete in all four rounds of the Victorian Senior Motocross Championships, where he hopes to finish in the top 5 in the A Lites class; aims to finish in the top 15 in the MXD class at the 2017 Australian MX Nationals, and would like to finish third in A Grade in the 2017 Shell Advance Gippsland Motocross Series.
Chandler is also heading overseas for the first time to compete in one of New Zealand’s top flight motocross competitions. Chandler said he was invited by the host club – the Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club on NZ’s North Island – and was assisted by the Jillings Family arranging a bike to race he is also supported by Davey Motorsport KTM Team in Australia.
He’ll be competing in the Junior 14 to 16-years 250cc 4-stroke class on January 28, and then in the Senior MX2 Championship class on Sunday, January 29.
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be a real test for me as it is my first time travelling to another country all on my own. I’m also really excited as there will be at least a dozen top Australian riders taking it to the Kiwis,” Chandler said. “I’m really grateful for this opportunity.”
Other top Victorian riders such as Jed Beaton, Cody Dyce, Bailey Malkiewicz, and Mason Semmens will also be competing at Woodville next weekend.