How does a quiet teenager from Waitoki go from doing laps around motocross tracks in New Zealand to becoming the best 250cc motocross and supercross rider on the planet? That's the question everyone wants to know, especially after he blitzed the SX2 (250cc) field in front of a packed North Harbour Stadium on Saturday night's AUSX Supercross Championship series opener.
I was lucky enough to spend some time with the media-shy rider as he packed in full days of media in the lead-up to the event. He put his best foot forward even though I could tell he'd rather be anywhere else. That's the price of being an AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion. The estimated $300k USD he earned in prize money this year would be nothing compared with his Star Yamaha and sponsor contracts. He's now minted, and he deserves to be after the work he's put in to get to where he is.
Motocross is an insanely intensive sport. It's one of the most physically demanding in the world, and you have to stay healthy, make smart decisions and back yourself when it counts. Cole and his mum Michelle and dad Wayne have done that the whole way.
While Cole is doing one of his studio shoots in Albany, Wayne tells me how proud he is of his son. "There are these moments along the journey," Wayne explains. "They're intense, they are pivotal, and you cannot choke. It is these moments when Cole has risen to the challenge each time and progressed to where he is today."
In the context of the motocross world, there is no bigger or more pressure-cooker arena than the US. To have achieved what he has this season – an AMA Supercross and Motocross title (the first Kiwi ever to do that) surely might qualify him for sportsman of the year. He'd certainly be my pick.
See you at the beach, Derek
PS We now have one space available on our June 6, 2027, Mentawai surf trip and two spots available on our June 23, 2027 surf exploration trip. This is the best boat and operator in the Mentawai Islands – our guide has 30 years of experience to draw on, and he's a great human. Learn more here.
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