TRAFALGAR East Motocross rider Patrick Ceh has firmed as a top three threat for this year’s Australian Championships following a third place finish in the 11-13 years senior 65cc class at the Victorian Titles.
The 13 year-old was the fastest Victorian across the line in last month’s final round of the titles in Albury to run third outright against a spattering of top interstate riders from Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland.
A series of falls throughout the three rounds of the championship, including a round two stack which led to a did not finish, marred Patrick’s claim for gold, but the tenacious teenager pulled it all together in Albury to make the podium.
“I was concentrating on staying on the bike and riding (hard),” Patrick said.
With the top contenders for the Australian titles competing in the state event, Patrick said he was able to gauge himself against the national frontrunners as he aims to replicate his result at the next level.
“It’s more of a chance of seeing what it’s going to be like when I ride (the Australian),” he said.
“(My goal is to) try get up to top three. (I’ll) try to ride faster and stay on the bike.”
The result was just one of several successful ventures in 2013 for the ambitious rider, who plans to ply his trade at the mini Olympics of motocross in the United States at the first opportunity.
Patrick took out the two-day open in Horsham in April, conquering the venue set to host the 2013 Australian titles, and won the Albury club championships.
And the prolific rider looks set to add more silverware to an already impressive collection this season; he leads: the Australian Arena Cross series with two rounds remaining, Gippsland Regionals after six of eight rounds and the Blue Rock club championship.
With the final round of the AAC and GR to be held at his Blue Rock home track, Patrick is a heavy favourite to claim the honours in both events.
Having competed since age seven, and ridden bikes since he could walk, Patrick has honed his skills on a home-made course which traverses a kilometre of bush behind his family home and weaves through the front yard with a climactic jump over the driveway.
Practicing several evenings a week with the aid of his father and former rider Adrian, Patrick said his skills had come a long way in recent times.
“My corners have gotten a lot better… technique and balance is the biggest thing,” he said.
In his final year in the 11-13 age division before moving up to 85cc and the 13-16 class, dad Adrian has noticed big improvements.
“This year I’ve seen with his riding, when he doesn’t think about it he does it all naturally, instinctively,” Adrian said.
“When he’s relaxed and not trying to over-ride he rides faster and smoother than what he does when he’s worried about who is around him and trying to do better.
“It’s like in tennis hitting the ball in the centre of the racquet and rolling the wrist for top spin, it’s all those little things put together which improves his riding and helps him out.”
Racing against senior competitors, including local pacemaker Tomas Ravenhorst, does not daunt Patrick, who is adamant he will remain a top three finisher in 2014.
“It’s like going from primary school to high school, he’ll be at the bottom of the tree… but in saying that he’ll still be up the front,” Adrian said.
The Australian championships are to be held in the next school holidays.
