Kurt Griffiths gears up for Sheffield AX
By Team TMX on 11th Feb 16
As the 2016 Monster Energy Arenacross Tour heads Sheffield this weekend, 13-year-old Kurt Griffiths from Worksop is hoping that the motivation of racing on his home patch will give him the edge he needs to get a wheel on the AX ProLites podium.
It's been something of a mixed year for the 2015 Small-wheel champ. He started the series contesting the Super Mini class but it soon became evident the small capacity 85cc machine just didn't have enough oomph to carry his 5'9” frame over the technically challenging Arenacross circuits.
While his racing pals were flying over the jumps and whoops, he had to roll them.
He persevered for the first three rounds at Manchester and Glasgow but, together with his family, made the decision to jump up to the ProLites, joining the larger-capacity category from round six.
"If we'd know then, what we know now, then Kurt would have gone straight to the ProLites,” said mum Lisa. "He's only 13 though, so we thought he could get another year out of the 85s.
"He's managing to hold his own with the more experienced lads, but there is a massive age gap and the camaraderie isn't quite the same as in the Super Minis. It's a bit like moving school and leaving all your friends behind ... ”
The 125 KTM is obviously working well for Kurt as he currently stands tenth in the ProLites championship with only four rounds under his belt.
Even more impressive is that he broke his arm just four months before the 2016 series got underway, and had only 15 hours of riding time on the quarter-litre machine prior to getting in the thick of it at Birmingham. According to Lisa, Kurt is the only one piling on the pressure.
"We think he's had enough upheaval this year and so to see him smile and finish the races without breaking a bone is enough for us. He on the other hand wants to be back winning and especially this weekend with all his family and friends in the audience.
