Growing participation in motorcycle racing is on full display at the North West Championship in Hedland

The rising motorcycle participation throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley was on display in the final round of the North West Championship in Port Hedland. Over the weekend riders from as far south as Karratha and as far north as Broome converged on Hedland for the fifth round of the annual championship. President of the Port Hedland Motorcycle Club Nick Percival said the sport was going from strength to strength in the North West and he believed it had a lot to do with the nature of the region’s workforce. “The membership numbers across all clubs, because we are all transient mining towns, are on the rise,” he said. “People are moving up here because of work.” The senior race was taken out by Karratha local Jack Wattling, followed by Jack Newman from Tom Price, and Archie Freeguard from Karratha. Mr Percival said while some immense skill was on display the championship caters to all. “The sport caters to all skill sets,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you just started riding or you’re an expert rider that’s been riding for 10 years.” The Port Hedland Club hosts two coaching clinics a year to develop the skills of its members which often features professional riders. Local Hedland riders did their club proud as well with Bentley Noble taking out first and third in the 50cc and 65cc junior competitions.