Caleb Grothues is just one of many top young Aussies aboard KTMs in the juniors. Image: Matt Bernard/Dirt Action.

KTM Australia general manager and world motocross legend Jeff Leisk has outlined the importance of junior competition after the Austrian brand dominated the 2012 Australian Junior Motocross Championships at Coolum last week.

The Austrian manufacturer dominated the start gates at the 2012 titles, with a sea of 348 KTMs entered making up well over 50 percent of the 581 entries for the event.

“We’re really one of the few, if not the only brand, that can offer a pathway for riders from when they first start racing all the way through into the senior ranks,” Leisk commented. “With that aspect in mind, there is lots of talent on our product with great kids and very good riders developing.

“There were some standout performers in Caleb Grothues and Caleb Ward, which are just a couple of our big results from the event. That said, we are very proud of all the KTM riders and we hope that they all enjoyed it and had a good week at the championships.

“We’re always keeping our eye on the juniors and obviously there is some great talent that has come on over the past 12 months. We will be looking to support those riders even more, but it’s also important to note that we have supported the event with our KTM technical services personnel for the past five or six years.

“KTM offers technical support to any KTM rider, which is all extremely important to our brand. We are able to offer really competitive bikes to everybody, they are all both fast and reliable, so we hope that the kids can have a lot of fun on them at the same time – that’s what it’s all about.”

Riding a KTM 50 SX, Billy Payne won the 50cc Auto title, ahead of fellow KTM contender Brad West.

Sunshine Coast local Jett Lawrence (KTM Brisbane) rode his KTM 65 SX to victory in the 65cc 7-U9 category, picking up an impressive four from five race wins during the week. KTM riders filled the podium with Dominic Walker and New Zealander Regan Turner third.

Queensland rising star Bailey Malkiewicz secured his second Australian Junior Motocross Championship title aboard his KTM 65 SX in the 65cc 9-U11 class. Malkiewicz was the winner with a 1-1-3 results, ahead of fellow KTM campaigners Rhys Budd and Tyler Darby.

KTM’s current 65cc World Junior Motocross Champion Caleb Grothues won two Australian titles at Coolum, his first coming aboard a 65 SX in the 65cc 11-U13 years title ahead of two more KTM riders in Riley Dukes (SS Racing/Coastal KTM) and Liam Walsh. Grothues also took the 85cc 9-U12 title with a perfect 1-1-1 result aboard his 85 SX, from fellow KTM riders Callum Norton (GMR Motorex KTM) and Riley Dukes.

The 85cc 12-U14 championship saw Mitchell Evans (GMR Motorex KTM) race to second on his 85 SX, one slot ahead of Hunter Lawrence (KTM Australia/KTM Brisbane).

Queensland’s Caleb Ward (JWR KTM/Wayne Leonard Motorcycles) won the 100-150cc 13-U15 championship on a 150 SX, from Dylan Heaton (KTM Australia/Dirt Bike Factory) and Jake Pruiti in yet another dominant KTM sweep of the podium. Heaton also won his first national title in the 85cc 14-U16 ranks on the 85 SX. Elias Dukes completed that podium in third.

The 100-150cc 15 years class saw two more KTM 150 SXs on the podium, thanks to the efforts of Richard Evans (KTM Australia/KTM Brisbane) and Dylan Wilson.

Victorian standout Wade Carter (GMR Motorex KTM) was second in the 200-250cc 13-U15 years title chase aboard his KTM 250 SX-F, with another KTM completing the podium in Caleb Ward.

Another KTM youngster to reach a medal position during the titles was Aaron Tanti (SS Racing/Coastal KTM) in the 200-250cc 15 years class, narrowly missing out on the championship for 2012 aboard his 250 SX-F.

KTM also featured strongly in the women’s categories, with Queensland rider Cheyenne Taylor second in the 85cc 12-U16 field following an action-filled week of competition.