Young Rotorua rider shoots to the top at Woodville | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua's Scotty Canham may be the next big thing.

The Kawasaki rider surprised everyone when he became the junior Champion of Champions at the weekend's 49th annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville.

The 16-year-old raced his Patterson O'Connor Motorcycles Kawasaki KX250F to runner-up spot in the ultra-competitive junior 14-16 years' 250cc class on Saturday, getting faster as the day wore on, charging through the field after a bad start in the final 250cc race to claim second spot.

He finished 10 points behind Cromwell's Sam O'Callaghan but ahead of Australian junior world champion Jay Wilson.

He then backed that up by going one better and winning the prestigious all-in junior Champion of Champions feature race to end the day, this time ahead of O'Callaghan and Atiamuri's national 125cc No1, Dion Picard.

"I have only been racing for three years and spent most of 2008 on the sidelines with injury," Canham said. "I came back to racing in July last year and now this is the highlight, winning the main junior race at Woodville.

"Michael Phillips [of Rotorua] gave me some lessons when I first decided I wanted to race in 2006.

"Then, when he went overseas to race, I started using [Cambridge former national champion] Mike Cotter, who has helped and guided me on and off since."

Cotter is the manager of the Fly Team Green Kawasaki outfit.

"Mum, Dad and my brother Danny have guided and helped me from day one. They have helped me with all my fitness and training," Canham said.

"Woodville was my biggest and best since my accident. Being on top of the podium was the best feeling I have ever had.

"I felt proud for my sponsors."