22/09/2026
I had such an awesome weekend racing at the Minigp Academy NZ’s “NZSBK Kings, Queens & Kids” event in the Junior 160cc class.
There was a bit of everything — wet and dry tracks, some really fast laps, some big battles, my bike not running quite right, and, best of all, a massive team win! 🏆
📍Saturday – Practice Day
Saturday was practice day, so I got lots of time on the track to learn the circuit and get my bike set up.
Our teams were picked, and Jason Holton was my Senior rider. Lewis Lucas Racing was also on our team in the Junior 110 class.
Jason was great at helping me and Lewis all weekend. He gave us lots of advice and helped us with our riding.
The weather was good for most of Saturday, but then it rained in the afternoon. We had to quickly change from slick tyres to wet tyres, and we lost about 30 minutes of track time.
It was a really good day and I was feeling ready for Sunday!
🏁 Sunday – Race Day
Sunday morning started with a wet track.
The first practice session was wet, but the track started drying out. I felt comfortable on the wet tyres and kept getting faster as the track dried.
My lap times were getting better and better, and I was feeling really confident going into qualifying.
⏱️ SuperPole Qualifying
Qualifying was a bit different for this event - we had a warm-up lap and then straight into a one-lap shootout.
I went out and gave it everything I had and did a 56.6-second lap, which was a new personal best! 🔥
That put me 2nd on the grid, right behind my cousin Marc Chappell Racing.
Having me and Marc starting 1st and 2nd was going to be pretty cool!
🏆 Race 1
I got a really good start and stayed behind Marc for the first couple of laps.
Then I saw my chance at the hairpin and went up the inside of him.
I made the pass stick and then put my head down and pushed really hard.
I managed to take the Race 1 win! 🏆
What a way to start the day!
🏆 Race 2
I got another really good start and moved straight into 1st place.
This time I didn't hang around. I led the whole race from start to finish!
I also set another new personal best with a 55.2-second lap! 🔥
I was feeling great and the bike was going fast, but then it started playing up and wasn't running 100%.
When I came back into the pits, Dad got straight to work taking the bike apart to try and find the problem.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to completely fix it, but Dad got it running well enough for the main race.
Then it was time for the big Kings & Queens Team Race! 👑
👑 NZSBK Kings & Queens Team Race
For the team race, I was racing with Jason and Lewis.
This was going to be tough as the finishing position of your teammate in their race, was your starting position for your race.
Seniors went first, then 160 riders, with the 110 rider bringing it home for the team.
🏁Senior Team Race
Jason had an uphill battle as he was he was racing against some of the best road racers in NZ.
He did his best and brought the bike home in 7th place.
That meant I had a big job to do in my main race because I would have to start from the back of the grid.
And my bike still wasn't running 100%.
Dad gave me some pretty simple instructions:
“Go out, make sure the bike is running okay, and do your best. What will be, will be.”
So I went racing! 🏁
🔥 Junior 160 Team Race
I started from the back of the grid, but I got an absolute rocket of a start! 🚀
I had a crazy first lap and passed lots of riders. I went from the back of the grid all the way up to 2nd! I couldn't believe it!
Then I started chasing one rider — Marc.
A couple of laps later, I was right behind him.
I got a really good drive out of the hairpin and onto the little straight underneath the timing tower.
I pulled alongside Marc and went up the inside onto the front straight.
I was in the lead! 🏁
But I still had more work to do. I put my head down and started trying to make a gap.
Every lap I was looking back to see where Marc was.
If he started getting closer, I pushed a bit harder.
If he dropped back a little bit, I could ease off slightly.
I was trying to keep the gap where I wanted it.
I think this was one of the coolest parts of my race because I was thinking about what I needed to do while I was riding.
After starting at the back, passing all those riders and racing with a bike that wasn't running 100%, I crossed the finish line in 1st place!
I WON THE KINGS & QUEENS JUNIOR 160 TEAM RACE!🏆👑🔥
That was such an awesome feeling!
🔥Junior 110 Team Race
My win meant Lewis started P1 for his Kings & Queens race.
Lewis rode really well and finished 2nd!
👑 The Team Victory
When the points from each of our team race results were added up, we had enough points to win the overall Kings, Queens & Kids Team Title! 👑🏆
It was so cool winning it together as a team. I was really proud of all of us.
My weekend results:
🏆 Race 1 Winner
🏆 Race 2 Winner
⏱️ New PB – 56.6 seconds in qualifying
⏱️ New PB – 55.2 seconds in Race 2
🔥 Back of grid to 2nd on the opening lap of the Jnr 160 Team Race
🏆 Over all Jnr 160 Winner
🏆 Kings & Queens Team Jnr 160 Race Winner
👑 Overall Kings, Queens & Kids Team Winner
❤️ Thank You
A massive thank you to Jason Holton for helping me and Lewis all weekend. He gave us lots of advice and helped us so much.
Thank you to MiniGP Academy NZ for putting on such an awesome event and giving us young riders the chance to race, learn and compete with some of the best riders in the country.
A really big thank you to my long-time supporters:
- Liam from Got Speed Media for always making sure my bike looks absolutely awesome when I turn up at the track;
- Kieran Harnett for all their help in the background. I truly appreciate everything you do for me! ❤️
- Barry aka PoppaPix for capturing my journey.
Thank you to the Event sponsors and supporters Kiwibike Insurance & Cozy NZ
And finally, thank you to everyone who helped make the Kings, Queens & Kids event happen — the organisers, officials, volunteers, teams, families and everyone working behind the scenes.
It was such an awesome weekend and one I definitely won't forget!
I had heaps of fun racing, learned lots and got to stand on the top step with my team.
KINGS, QUEENS & KIDS CHAMPIONS! 👑🏁🏆
What a weekend! ❤️
📸 PoppaPix & Sue Rafferty Photography
