COREY Hammond did not take to motorbikes immediately, but you would only know that because he volunteers the information.
The 14-year-old from Windsor Downs spends plenty of time on the back of his KTM 125 bike these days, but when he was a youngster he needed some convincing to get on the bike.
“I didn't like riding my bike at first, but kept going back to it and eventually grew to like it,” he said.
He has grown to like it so much, it led to him winning a junior enduro riding championship.
Hammond placed first in both the Australian Off Road Championship and the NSW Enduro Championship.
Hammond goes across Australia to race his bike. His favourite styles are the cross country and enduro, although does race in other forms too.
Hammond said his favourite race was the Hattah Desert Race, which he has ridden in since 2011.
“Every year I have worked hard and managed to place a little better, and this year was by far my best result,” he said.
“I managed to win the 125cc - 150cc 2 stroke class out of 35 kids and placed seventh outright out of 170 juniors.”
His uncle was the first person to convince him to give enduro riding a shot.
When Hammond was seven, his uncle invited him to Dungog, an hour’s drive north of Newcastle, to go in a race.
“I went up on a 65 bike and I couldn't even get up some of the hills when I first started,” he said.
“I used to come back crying after the laps but I kept at it and eventually got better and better.”
Dungog is now one o his favourite places to ride.
In fact, he often trains with Josh Green, a professional enduro rider, in nearby Stroud Hill.
Hammond said he worked hard at becoming a better rider, because he hoped to become a professional rider one day.
He said he intend to make the most of the 2017 series.
“It would be nice to get another championship. Next year is my last one in juniors so I will try to make it a good year,” he said.