SW rider on top of game in his first season

It may be his first year in the seniors, but Bunbury’s Austin Ridley has already made himself at home in the top class of motocross racing.

At the weekend Austin won his third round of the South West Interclub Championships in Cranbrook, backing up his firsts in Collie and Bunbury, sealing the Seniors Championship in his first season as well as the pro lites title.

The 17-year-old is not new to the sport, having ridden since he was four and racing from the age of five.

Austin said he knew at the start of the day he needed to just finish the races to claim the title.

“Coming into the last round I knew I had a big enough gap,” he said.

“It is great to win against the fastest group of riders on the 250cc.”

Austin said he had aimed for a modest top-three finish at the start of the year and was not expecting to go on a fairytale run.

“I was not expecting to win the whole season,” he said.

Austin is close to winning four championships, with the Bunbury Motorcycle Club’s champion rider and pro lites titles in his sights to go with his two South West Interclub Championships.

The Bunbury club finished third in the Champion Club count.