Final race decides National Championship Series winner

Wills Harvey has moved his whole life around in pursuit of racing motocross.

At 17 years old, his gamble to leave school and move up to Taupo has paid off in spades after he raced to first place in the Senior 125cc New Zealand MX Championship Series.

Riding almost daily in one of the country's hubs for the sport, alongside being centrally based for all four rounds of the championship series, Wills and his Yamaha YZ125 were in peak performance for the series.

And he's got some pretty experienced pedigree in his corner, with his bike built up by former World number two Josh Copins.

Josh, who raced in the Motocross World Championships from 1993 to 2012, has taken the younger rider under his wing, with Wills a JCR (Josh Coppins Racing) supported rider this season.

"He's full of knowledge. Money can't buy what he has," says Wills.

Murray Thorn Motorcycles Motueka have also been a driving force for Wills, having jumped on board several years ago after seeing his talent.

"He picked me up maybe three years ago and I hoped on a Yamaha. I've been under his wing since then, helping me out and guiding me."

After winning the first round of the national series, two third-place weekends in Balclutha and Pukekohe set the stage for a dramatic finish for the young racer.

Coming into the last event in Taranaki, Wills was behind and knew that he'd have to finish first in all three races to win the New Zealand title.

"I had to have a perfect day because I was that far down on points, I had to win all my races," he says.

And he was perfect, snatching back the top spot to sit on 267 championship points, just two points clear of second place.

"I was definitely more nervous coming into the last race knowing if I won that I could win. If I got second, then those two races beforehand would have been for nothing. There was heaps of pressure on."

Wills got his first bike for Christmas when he was seven years old and is the only one in the family who rides.

"When I was young, I didn't have any exposure or anything like that. . . I just always kept nagging them, wanting one.

"Growing up, I was pretty sporty. I did rugby and all sorts, gave everything a go, but motocross was always the focus."

Wills' schedule sees him have an extended break ahead of his next big race in October, but he's not going to sit idly by.

He's already back at home and on the bike, looking to learn the ropes and getting up to speed on a 250cc four-stroke before he heads off to Australia to continue chasing his dreams of one-day racing in the MXGP series World Championship Series.