Rising Star Draper Bags Two Key Titles At Pukekohe

With the two premier titles safely locked away, Karaka’s Hayden Draper became the obvious stand-out individual at the 2025 KTM New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships near Pukekohe at the weekend.

After three intense days of racing at the Harrisville circuit, just outside Pukekohe, the 15-year-old had wrapped up both the 14-16 years’ 250cc class title and the 15-16 years 125cc title as well, something he’d threatened to do when the junior championships were staged near Foxton in April last year, but he couldn’t quite manage it.

But a lot has happened to see Draper develop and grow over the past 12 months or so.

He finished third overall in the 14-16 years’ 250cc class in the domestic junior title chase last year, but then he stepped it up when he went on to win the national junior 13-15 years’ 250cc title in Australia in September 2024.

Draper then won the 125cc class title at the four-round senior New Zealand Motocross Championships that wrapped up near Rotorua in March (as well as winding up second overall in the under-19 age-group calculations), perhaps making him the favourite to at least win the top junior 125cc title at Harrisville at the weekend.

And so it was a thrilling double-title win for Draper when the dust had settled at Harrisville late on Sunday afternoon.

“I had a few ups and downs, including a few bad starts, but it all sorted itself out in the end,” said the home-schooled year-11 student.

Draper finished ahead of Te Awamutu’s Nixon Parkes and Taupo’s Maz Parkes (no relation) in the 14-16 250cc class and ahead of Tauranga’s Ethan Carleton and Cheviot’s Richard Spencer in the 15-16 years’ 125cc class.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it’s definitely a good feeling,” said Draper afterwards.

“I am hoping to go to France to race in the Junior Motocross World Championships at Romagné on July 6, but nothing is fully sorted yet for that.”

The KTM-sponsored three-day event (April 11-13) was run at the popular MR Motorcycles Raceway on Geraghty Maber Road, Harrisville, just a short drive from Pukekohe and it obviously attracted the cream of the crop from this part of the world.

Motorcycling New Zealand motocross co-commissioner Stu McCulloch, working alongside fellow commissioner Sonia Cloke, said the event was “next level”, with racing of the highest order.

“The weather was perfect all weekend and the amazing Pukekohe track crew really pulled it all together for a great competition. The officials were top notch too.

“The track got a little gnarly towards the end of the weekend, but the riders were top calibre and coped really well.

“We really want to thank KTM New Zealand and all our other sponsors too for giving such fantastic support.”

The other title winners at the weekend were Waipukurau’s Carson Carroll (12-14 years’ 125cc class); Taupo’s Connor Feather (13-16 years’ 85cc class); Cambridge’s Nico Verhoeven (11-12 years 85cc class); Waipukurau’s Kobe Carroll (8-10 years’ 85cc class); Walton’s Henry Millar (8-11 years 65cc class); Raetihi’s Karaitiana Horne (junior women 12-16 years’ 125/250cc class); Halcombe’s Indie Allison (12-16 years’ 85cc class) and Rotorua’s Breanna Thomasen (8-11 years’ 85cc class).

The event was supported by KTM New Zealand, HGW Performance, Powerpartsdepot, Ogio, Ward Demolition, Bare, Mag & Turbo, O’Neal, Motomuck, Lucas Oil Products, Absolutely Gas, Ebbett Pukekohe, Coops Coaching, Holy Moly, MR Motorcycles, Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom, Adrenalin Forest, Scoops Icecream, Broxy Rider Coaching, Hype Creative, McDonalds, Whitaker’s chocolate.

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