“The kids who lived there were riding a dirt bike.

“I asked if I could have a go, my parents were a bit hesitant but they gave in and let me, and I just took off.

“I couldn’t even ride a pushbike then,” said 15-year-old Ben Hussey.

That was enough to get him hooked and he began competing in motocross when he was seven.

Eight years on and Hussey has taken out round one of the NSW Junior Motocross Championships.

Held at the Clarence Motorcross Complex in Lithgow, the round win was his first.

“I have competed in the NSW titles for the past seven years,” he said.

“I have been on the overall podium every year but I have never won an individual round,” he said.

Hussey was competing in the eldest age category, the 14 to under 16-years 85cc class.

“It was a tough competition.

“There were 26 other riders and when I was reading the list of competitors I found there were guys from Queensland racing.

‘That put my confidence off a bit, because I had never raced against those guys before so I didn’t know what to expect.”

The Nowra High student believes his success in 2008 comes down to his experience and an improvement in fitness.

“I have ridden against most of those guys before,” he said.

“That gives me an advantage because I know which sections they ride faster than me, and I know where I am faster then them.”

The Worrigee resident, who is in year nine at school demonstrates maturity and commitment well beyond his years.

“I think my training and fitness are better this year too.

“I eat properly, do weights at the gym, train with pushbike riding and run.

“I train every day.”

On the technical side of racing, his coach Greg Moss guides him.

Two rounds remain in the NSW Junior Motocross Championships.

Round two will be held in Port Macquarie next Saturday and the round one champ is quite confident he will take a clean sweep.

“I’ll come first again,” he predicted.

“Clarence is the hardest track.

“It’s more of a four-stroke track, it’s sandy, windy and you need to know what you’re doing.

“There were people falling off everywhere.

“Port Macquarie is a high speed track.

“This time around the dirt will be hard and it will be easier to win than it was in round one.”

The NSW series will be decided in Cessnock over the August 23-24 weekend.