Do you remember the first time the circus rolled into town? Wandering wide-eyed as the crowd sucked you into the big top - you knew what to expect.....but, at the same time, you had no idea what to expect.
That was half the thrill - the thrill of the unknown.
I can imagine that was what it would have felt like for young Chase Lardner and his family as they rolled into the paddock at the Wildwood Rock Extreme, after trekking right the way across Australia for the 15-year-olds first east coast race event.
It's been a big year for the boy from Bunbury, W.A.
In his inaugural year he took out the top spot for Juniors in the W.A. Hard Enduro Series, managing to edge out the junior juggernaut that is Bunbury KTM's Oskar Thomas.
Be that as it may, rolling into the circus that is Wildwood, it wouldn't be hard for a Junior Rider to feel very much out of their comfort zone. But isn't that what going to the circus is all about?
And the Wildwood Rock Extreme is certainly that - a Circus!!
With all of the major challenges easily accessible to the crowd, it's almost as if the action is right in your lap all weekend. The circuit is as frenetic as it is relentless: there is no relief, and this caught Chase out surprisingly quickly
"The rocks gave me arm pump in the first 10 minutes".
With WHES Gold Class Champion Jakob Petrig (Adventure On Store) running trackside with him and helping guide him through all the major obstacles he quickly found footing for his size 14's - planting himself firmly in third place, behind Adam Ciuraszkiewicz, for most of the race.
But, feeling like Ronnie Mac strapped onto a Screamin' Eagle, he struggled up Fender Bender Hill in the early laps. Chase soon realised he was very much a part of this circus, with a long while to go before the show was over.
He held third position as long as he could until Cody Elliot finally got the better of him in the Peter Stevens Rock Garden.
I've no doubt that all of the Juniors, and quite possibly every single senior, and (likely) most (if not all) of the spectators would be tipping their helmets to the 14 year-old prodigy that took out this year's Junior A title at Wildwood.
Alex Dunlea may be a junior, but from what planet nobody know. His lap times at Wildwood looked like clerical errors on the results sheet.
"Technical, smart, level-headed and gifted" from Greg Peterson, there are no better compliments. The 2024 AHEC Junior Champion is one to watch!
Congratulations to all the Juniors for a hard-fought race, and every other rider that put 'rubber-on-ground' in what has to be one of the best events on the calendar.
All the results of Wildwood are out on socials so skip over to Instagram or Facebook to see who landed where and on what. There are more categories than you can poke a spoke at, because a lot goes on under the Big Top at Wildwood!
On that - WHES may be looking at throwing a huge contingent into the 'woods' in 2025. So, if you don't know much about this event then get to know it better.
It is massive, it is popular, and it is a solid event that any rider can be part of.
Hope to see you there next year!
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