Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke is still too young to have his driver’s licence, but the 15-year-old has proven age is no barrier to top motocross riding.

Waikato rider Josiah Natzke (KTM 125) is ready to take on the best young riders from around the globe at the World Junior Motocross Championships in Belgium. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.

Following his success in March to become the youngest rider to ever win the senior national 125cc title, the secondary student is now setting his sights on Europe after being picked to compete at the annual World Junior Motocross Championships in Belgium.

The teenage Kiwi star will head across to Europe early next month (July) to give himself plenty of time to get acclimatised for the championships on August 10, with warm up events planned with races in two European Motocross Championship events.

Josiah’s parents Janine and Chris Natzke have been delighted with the support from sponsor KTM which has provided a KTM125 bike to be auctioned on Trade Me to go to the cost of the trip.

“KTM will provide bikes and support in Bastogne (Belgium) and all that Josiah will have to do is turn up and ride,” says Chris.

“The aim is to make a really good impression in Europe and, hopefully, it will lead to greater things, potentially a position on a Grand Prix team in the very near future, maybe next year or the year after.”

Josiah says he is excited about competing at the worlds and hopes it will lead to a chance to race in Europe next year and is determined to do his best.

“I’m not going over there to come second; I’m going there to win.”

“But I’ll simply do my best and see what happens.”