Not Josh Pickering.

The Heddon Greta motorcycle rider moved up to the 13 to 16-years division this year, and won two national titles at the Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships at Kurri.

Not 14 until November, Josh is one of the youngest riders to win a national title in that division.

He won the 100-150cc two-stroke (in his first event on the bigger bike) and the 85cc-150cc big wheel classes.

“It’s been a lot harder, but I’ve learned a lot from it,” Josh said about racing against the older riders.

Breaking his arm just six weeks before the Nationals made it even more challenging – Josh had only ridden his bike three times before the big event.

But when his sister Samantha sang the national anthem at their home track, he felt ready to go.

“I knew I had a chance on the littler bike, but I wasn’t sure about the new bike,” he said.

Josh qualified third in the 100-150cc heats, and won two of the three finals, placing second in the other to finish at the top of the podium.

He beat last year’s Australian champion, Sean McLellan, in the process.

Josh’s proud dad, Rob, said it was a great victory.

“Going up into the older age group, we expected him to finish around the middle of the pack, so to go out and win it is amazing,” he said.

“He’s a real little fighter.”

Josh had won several titles in the 11 to 13-years class, including the NSW and Victorian Junior Dirt Track titles last year.

He is pursuing a career in road racing with assistance from former world champion Wayne Gardner, whose sons Remy and Luca also on the junior dirt track circuit.

Josh said he would like to thank Gardner for his support, as well as Phil Bond, Tony Pryor and all of his sponsors.

He also sends his best wishes to Kurri clubmate Mitchell Cluff, who had a bad fall at the nationals.