Maitland District Motorcycle Club member Dylan Heaton has put the icing on an amazing year with his selection in the NSW Yamaha development team last week.
The 10-year-old former Clarence Town motocross rider, who now lives in Medowie, was one of four juniors in the State to be selected for the team, and his mother Nicole Curry was as proud as punch.
“They only choose four kids who are under 16 and they try to groom them so when they graduate to seniors they can be successful,” Curry said.
“He is the only kid in the team from the Hunter Valley.”
Heaton earnt his berth in the development team after winning the NSW Stadium Cross Championships and placing second in the Australian Motocross Junior Championships.
He put aside a badly broken leg and 17 weeks off the track to reach the podium in the three races leading up to the Australian Championships, which were held at Wanneroo in Perth from September 26 to October 3.
“He broke his tibia and fibula and it sort of affected his confidence for a while,” Curry said.
“But by the time we had gotten to the Australian Championships he was back in form and had forgotten all about it.”
The announcement of his place in the team and the Yamaha sponsorship capped off a good month for Heaton, who was named the Port Stephens Junior Sports Star of the Year on November 6.
Heaton received the coveted award from ex-Knights star Mark Hughes, along with a $100 cheque.
When asked what he would do with his prize money, the 10-year-old showed he has his head firmly placed on his shoulders and his eyes towards a career when he said he would put it away for a rainy day.
“I’m going to save it I think,” Heaton said.
It undoubtedly won’t be the last time the quiet motocross whiz takes home a cheque for excelling at the sport.
As well as making the trip to Perth for the Australian championships, Heaton has travelled all over Australia and his mum admits it has opened doors for the family that would have otherwise remained closed.
“We’ve been to Tasmania, Melbourne, Queensland and all over NSW,” Curry said.
“These are places that we wouldn’t have been to if it wasn’t for Dylan hopping on the bike at such a young age.”
Heaton jumped on a push bike at the age of two and in a promising sign for the future didn’t require the use of training wheels.
“He had perfect balance and was a natural on the push bike and it wasn’t long before he transferred to a motorbike,” Curry said.
“He has now been riding for nearly nine years.”
Heaton, who spent time at the Australian Institute of Sport in September, said his favourite rider was American Supercross competitor Ryan Dungy.
“He is definitely Dylan’s favourite rider and we hope that the Yamaha sponsorship helps him become a similar rider on the world stage,” Curry said.
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