World stage positives and wins at home

Here’s his take on the weekend. 

Positives to take out of today’s race, we saw the chequered flag, have once again been inside the points positions so we need to be happy about this. 

The race didn’t start well for me, the windy conditions made it quite treacherous to say the least… 

I was blown off the track while riding with the front pack.

I lost a lot of ground from this and lost touch with the front group. In these windy conditions it made it difficult to close the gap back to them. 

I had another moment on the 4th lap where the wind caught my front wheel and when it landed back on the tarmac bent my handlebar in, which made things more difficult for the rest of the race. 

This weekend as a whole has been really positive, one of our best of the year so far. 

Despite it not being reflected in the result, the work behind the scenes is paying off. Being disappointed with a points finish just shows where we know our potential is.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, good things take time. I know it’s only a matter of time before the result of our hard work will pay off! 

Looking forward to making the next step in our progression in Aragon, let’s make it happen team!

Earlier, on Saturday night, it was a massive honour, and humbling, to be named as Male Rider of the Year and Best Up and Coming Road Racer at the Motorcycling New Zealand Awards in Wellington. 

To win these awards and have my name join previous winners that I have always looked up to, like Shane Richardson and Jake Lewis, is incredibly special. 

Racers like them showed me it was possible to chase a dream internationally and I have always appreciated their support and advice - and all of the wicked battles we’ve had on track swapping paint and bumping bars! 

When I reflect on 2024, it was an amazing year which started in NZ winning the 600 championship for the second time. Thanks to Josh Coppins Altherm JCR Yamaha, Steve Lloyd and Yamaha Motor New Zealand for giving me the chance to race on home turf. It was a great build up for the JuniorGP world championship. 

To secure three podiums with AGR Racing in the FIM JuniorGP world championship was fantastic - but it was all just part of the biggest goal I was striving for - to be the next Kiwi in the MotoGP paddock.

To see that Kiwi flag racing in amongst the best from around the world will always make me so proud.

Thanks to everyone who supports me - especially my family and jessica.shivas7, my manager Anscari 111 Management, my AGR Racing Team and BOÉ Motorsports teams, the Southland Motorcycle Club and all of my sponsors.

I hope you’re enjoying the ride so far! The hard work has only just started.

Massive congrats to all of the other winners and finalists - especially my fellow Southland Club member Jack Symon. Wicked to see Southland named Club of the Year! 

I hope everyone had a fantastic night -  thank you MNZ for recognising the achievements of our racers competing around the world on both tarmac and dirt and the clubs and officials who make it all happen.