The 13-year-old Taree Motor Cycle Club rider won the 85cc two stroke 12 to under 16 years and 250 four stroke 13-16s at the classic. This was the first time he had ridden the 250 in competition.

This year the classic also counted as the NSW championship as the regular program was disrupted because of COVID-19.

Hayden explained that he's getting too big for the 85cc machine. This championship was decided on a points basis over five rounds.

"Going into the last round I was level with another Taree rider Thoren Openshaw,'' Hayden explained.

So the pressure was on, with Hayden gaining an early advantage, however, with two laps remaining Thoren crashed and was out of the running. Thoren finished second overall.

The format for the 250 was heats followed by a final. Here Hayden had a good start in the decider and was never headed to claim the title.

"The start was the difference,'' he said.

He's been practicing on his 250 for much of the year, getting used to the extra power.

"And it's a bigger bike so it's a bit harder to handle,'' Hayden added.

This was also the first time Hayden has ridden in competition since the opening round of the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) at Phillip Island in February, in pre-COVID times. The OJC is a development program for 11 to under-16-year-olds and is rated as Australia's premier junior road racing academy. Hayden was accepted into the program last year and was looking forward to riding in the six rounds.

He finished a promising fifth at Phillip Island. However, like sport around the globe, COVID-19 caused a major interruption and the series is in recess.

Under the rules at least three rounds of a championship have to be completed before a winner can be declared. There's a chance this could happen, with Motorcycling Australia hoping to organise two heats at the Winton track in Victoria later this month.

"But it will depend on whether the borders are opened,'' Hayden explained.

"So we don't know yet, we're just waiting to see what will happen.''

Hayden is keen to rider in the OJC again next year if it goes ahead, saying the one race at Phillip Island was a great experience.

He was a finalist in the Manning River Times Sportstar of the Year for 2019 after he won the junior lite class at the Australian Supermoto Championship, with rounds contested at Port Macquarie, South Australia and Queensland.

Hayden is in year seven at St Clare's High School.