The 13-year-old travelled to Maffra in Victoria with fellow rider and younger brother Jai to compete in the national event.

His father Jamie Waterman said Kurt struggled with the track early as he was the only rider not to have a run on it leading up to the competition.

The young Birdwood High School student first fell in love with the track at the age of three and a half while watching motocross champion Shane Metcalfe ride at Mannum.

“He looked at me and said ‘I could do that’,” Mr Waterman said.

Three months later, at a time when most children are learning to ride a push bike with training wheels, young Kurt was taking to the motocross track at Mannum on his first bike.

By the age of five he was competing.

In 2007 and 2008 Kurt took out the State championship titles and ran a close second this year.

Kurt said he was pretty happy with his junior nationals win which was made easier by the amount of support he had received from sponsors.

“After five days of racing I won by only one point over Nick Scott of Queensland,” he said.

“My brother Jai raced in the 150cc nine to under 12 field and finished an excellent eighth overall, so it was a good result for both of us.”

For the rest of the year Kurt plans to take time out to concentrate on school work and prepare for next year.

Mr Waterman said Kurt’s would move up to the 250cc four stroke class from January when the next season was due to begin.