A group of young Cariboo motocross riders put the rest of the province on notice at the Kawasaki BC Motocross Championships last weekend.
Noah Porter, Thomas Kaiser and Grace Porter of Williams Lake, and Mason Szatmari and Connor Szatmari of Lac La Hache, all raced in the Kelowna event, the third and final round of the championship series.
Noah kept the rubber side down to finish first in both of his 50cc 7- to 8-year-old races to claim first overall in the series. The first race was held in Quesnel on July 19, while round two ran in Campbell River on Aug. 2.
Thomas, likewise, took two second-place finishes in his 65cc 10- to 11-year-old division during the weekend to put him into first overall in the series. Thomas also placed sixth and third during the weekend to give him enough points to claim first overall in the 85cc class.
Connor, meanwhile, took fourth in both of his races in Kelowna, while Mason raced to fifth in his first race and did not finish in his second race.
Grace, in the 50cc 4- to 6-year-old class, took 14th and 13th on the weekend.
Thomas said it felt good to have all his hard work pay off during the championship.
“It was a lot of fun and I’m happy to be up there with all the fast guys in B.C. and to be able to win the series,” he said.
“My highlight was when I clinched the 65cc championship early [in the day]. That was pretty cool.”
Thomas’s dad, Fred Kaiser, president of the Williams Lake Dirt Riders Association, said it was a great weekend for local riders.
Both Thomas and Noah brought home custom jackets with their respective championships crested on the sides.
“They’ve had a great year,” Fred said, noting having Brock Hoyer, a professional motocross rider living in Williams Lake, has helped the boys’ riding immensely.
“I think the fact we have a pro in town, they’ve got an example of somebody who’s made it quite high and races at a national level,” he said.
“Brock comes out and he coaches the kids, and Thomas has been quite fortunate to have some time with Brock and Dale Volding from Prince George.
“It helps. They start with the right form and learn the right way to ride in order to go fast. They are very fortunate.”