Mason Phillips and Kieran Leigh on their way to Canada

Saturday 07 May: The pair are in California for two weeks en-route to Canada. They were training at Glen Helen yesterday under the watchful eye of Niki Urwin who is helping Kieran with his set-up on a KTM250F

Mason Phillips (Mt Maunganui) is about to spend his fifth NZ winter racing in the Canadian, Monster Energy Motocross Nationals. Last year Rhys Carter went with him but broke his collarbone early into the season and had to come home. This year Mason is accompanied by the talented Kieran Leigh (Cambridge).

The Canadian Nationals start on the west coast and three months later ends up on the east coast after nine events.

June 5 Whispering Pines Raceway, Kamloops, British Columbia
June 12 Wastelands, Nanaimo, British Columbia
June 19 Wild Rose MX Park, Calgary, Alberta
June 26 Shadow Valley Raceway, Morden, Manitoba
July 17 Gopher Dunes, Courtland, Ontario
July 24 Motocross Ste-Julie, Ste-Julie Quebec
July 31 Riverglade MX Park, Moncton, New Brunswick
August 7 Sand Del Lee, Richmond, Ontario
August 21 Walton Raceway, Walton, Ontario

After four seasons in Canada, Mason has the contacts and this year he has his own KTM satellite team, racing as Kini Red Bull KTM Race Team. Kini is an apparel brand that also sells racing safety equipment. They are connected to Red Bull's extensive motorsport programme. The team will have full support from KTM and will pit right next to the factory KTM team. Mason will ride a KTM 350F in MX1.

Last year the 26 year old rode MX1 for Kawasaki and was 5th going into the last round and had 'technical' issues and finished 6th.

Dusty Klatt 368
Kornel Nemeth 299
Bobby Kiniry 291
Kyle Keast 255
Josh Demuth 253
Mason Phillips 243

19-year-old Kieran Leigh will be riding a KTM 250F in the MX2 class. Mason plans to have a young Californian rider racing for them with Kieran in MX2 at some events.

Niki Urwin (Tauranga) is with them for the first leg. Niki is a top-level motocross coach and has worked with Katherine Prumm and Ben Townley. The fact that he is wheelchair bound, having broken his back some years ago in a Pro MX event at Wonthaggi in Australia, does not effect his coaching skills. Now a skilled karter Urwin also helped KartSport NZ establish its coaching program. He will spend two weeks in California helping Kieran set up and adjust to riding the KTM after being on a Yamaha for some years.

Both riders have come-back from a tough season of injuries. Kieran broke his femur practicing the NZ Supercross Champs which meant he missed the Motocross Nationals. He is a 'super talent' but plagued by bad luck. In his last year as a Junior he should have won the 125 and 250 titles but it was simply not his day at Otorohanga and it all went horribly wrong. Suffice to say Ethan Martens was to benefit from Kieran's demise. Get it all right in Canada and he could well be on the short list for the Under 23 rider in the NZ Team to go the the Motocross of Nations in France at the end of September - he's that capable.

Mason too has had a troubled season at home. As defending Champ for the MX2 Supercross title he broke his collarbone at the opening round last December. He entered the NZ Motocross Champs but withdrew after Patetonga's Round 2 whilst in 4th overall when he hurt the shoulder again.

Moto-Media wishes them all the very best and will keep track of the pair over the 9 rounds.