By Marc McGowan
NOT even a podium finish in this year’s Australian Motocross Nationals Pro Lites Championship could satisfy Pearcedale speed demon Kade Mosig’s burning ambition.
Mosig finished behind series winner Luke George and Pakenham’s Adam Monea in his third attempt at this level after placing ninth and sixth in the Pro Lites and Pro Opens categories in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
The 18-year-old Honda rider spent part of the year in second spot behind George before Monea overtook him in the final rounds of the championship.
“I would have liked to have won, but the season started a bit rough,” he said. “I had a bit of bike trouble and midway through the season I injured my shoulder. I tried to stay consistent and get the best possible position I could and that ended up being third.”
Mosig, who thanked his parents, Trevor and Lesley, and friends for their support, entered the last round in Queensland on the weekend just 12 points behind George and still in contention for the title.
He qualified fastest, but his dream start quickly became a nightmare when he fell back to 30th position in race one.
Mosig fought back to finish eighth before just being pipped for race two honours, leaving him 11 points short of George and just two behind Monea.
He will compete in Pro Lites again next season and has one goal in mind – national glory. “At the start of this season I knew we had the speed to win it, but there are a few minor things I need to work on and hopefully I can win next year,” Mosig said. “I need more consistency because sometimes I can go out and try my hardest and can crash. I need to build myself as a rider and gain a lot more knowledge.”
His American dream is still just that, but he and his team are working feverishly to earn him a ride over there.
The American motocross season is still going, making it difficult for Mosig to get in contact with the right people.
“That’s still up in the air at the moment, but I’m definitely still working towards going over there,” he said.
Mosig’s next focus is the seven-round Australian Supercross Nationals, beginning in October.
It will be his first full season in supercross, but he has won a round of the series in the past.
Mosig will again face the likes of George and Monea.
“We’re all roughly the same speed and it was close all year and we all won rounds and our consistency paid off,” he said. “I’ve raced them all my junior career and we’ve all grown up together and we’re up the top now.”
Despite appearing to have a good break ahead of the supercross season, Mosig will continue to work hard, riding up to four times a week and working with his personal trainer to maintain peak condition.
“Supercross is a lot more intense, so I do more intensity training and sprints, whereas motocross is more about endurance,” he said.