A MISHAP in the opening race ended Tinonee motor cycle racer Hayden Nelson's hopes of a podium finish in the final two rounds of the Oceania Junior Cup raced at Wakefield Park near Goulburn.
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Hayden, 13, eventually finished the championship in 12th place on 81 points.
The event was won by Marianos Nikolis on 162.
Hayden went into the final two rounds in fifth place, but failing to record any points in the first race saw him drop out of contention.
The event was postponed after the opening round held at Phillip Island in February, with rounds two and three decided last weekend.
Hayden started promisingly by qualifying on the front row for the opening race. Three races were conducted on Saturday with a further two on Sunday.
He managed a 12th place in the second race and he had his best result in the third when he was seventh.
Hayden had to re-qualify for the second day's racing and here he produced a disappointing effort, dropping back to the second last group.
"It wasn't the result we wanted, but Hayden learnt a lot from the two days," Hayden's dad, Craig said.
"Hayden's had a lot of racing experience, but not road racing experience. It was a frustrating two days, but Hayden still enjoyed it and he's looking forward to next year."
He's already been accepted into the series for 2021, with testing to be held at Phillip Island in January with the opening round also at Phillip Island in late February.
The Oceania Junior Cup is a Junior Road Race Academy aimed at developing road racing riders. Hayden contested the event for the first time this year.
The cup will be contested over six rounds although the final details have still to be announced.
Rounds have been confirmed for Phillip Island, Wakefield Park, Winton in Victoria and Morgan Park in Queensland.
He's also a member of Taree Motorcycle Club and won two championships at the State dirt track titles held at Kempsey last month.
