ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈaɪv wɛn hiː wʌz twˈɛlv jˈɪɹz ˈoʊld ænd kəmpˈiːɾɪŋ ɐɡˈɛnst ɐdˈʌlt ɹˈaɪdɚz, hiː wˈʌn ðə klˈʌbmən klˈæs æt ðə nˈuː zˈiːlənd tɹˈaɪəlz tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp ɹˈaɪdɪŋ ɐ fˈæntɪk ˈeɪɾi.
In 1985 when he was 12 years old and competing against adult riders, he won the clubman class at the New Zealand Trials Championship riding a Fantic 80.