Ride 4 Roo: Fantastic turn out and fierce competition at Manjimup Motocross in honour of a young star

Engines revved in memory of a much-loved rider at Manjimup’s annual Ride 4 Roo event at the weekend, which has become a highlight of the motocross season in Western Australia. With a fantastic turnout of more than 150 riders from across the State, it was a day filled with intense battles and riding prowess. The memorial lap officially began the day and was a show stopper, with the R4R buggy leading the charge driven by Rhys’ father Tony Burnett, followed by a wave of riders and supported by hundreds of cheering spectators. Manjimup young guns Charlie and Patrick Butler had a fantastic day out, really demonstrating the up-and-coming skill coming out of the Lower South West, while young guns Brody Bachos, Joel Leech and Lincon Adam also put on spectacular performances across their races. Tate Paganini, Paul Smithson, James Craig, Brendan Vassallo and Charlie Blee all also performed well for Manjimup across Clubman Lites, Masters 40+ Yrs, MXV Veteran 30-39 Yrs races and MXW Women races. The well-loved shootout races really drew in the spectators, with Brax Chetwynd, Deegan Fort, Luke Davis and the Butler brothers really putting on a show in their respective categories. Mr Burnett said he was incredibly grateful to see so many riders from across the State turn-up to participate in an event that means a lot to him and his family. ”To see this and know people are thinking of him, I couldn’t ask for more. ”We’re just fortunate we’ve got somewhere to come celebrate... come and do stuff like this for him. ”I can’t thank this club enough, for them to put their hand up and build a memorial for him, a day like this for him... they’re so generous, it’s unreal.” Mr Burnett said the Cosy Creek track where the event is held was Rhys’ favourite. ”He loves this track, this was his favourite track. ”He would be watching this and he would be loving it — the attention and fanfare, he’d love it.” Burnett had stamped himself as an emerging young rider in October 2018 with a top-10 finish at the Australian Junior Motocross Championships in Tasmania. He was in his first season of senior racing and riding a 250cc Yamaha. “He loved and breathed it,” Mr Burnett said of his son, an apprentice bike mechanic in Mandurah. ”He died doing what he loved.” RESULTS 100cc/125cc 13-U16 Yrs 1st - Patrick Butler, of Manjimup 2nd - Connor Wiese, of Narrogin 3rd - Ryan Forbes, of Esperance 128cc/150cc-200cc/250cc 13-U16 Yrs 1st - Patrick Butler, of Manjimup 2nd - Sonny Pellicano, of Perth 3rd - Charlie Weightman, of Perth 50cc Auto 7-U9 Yrs 1st - Nate Forwood, of Perth 2nd - Drake Hill, of Perth 3rd - Scott Evans, of Perth 65cc 10-U12 Yrs 1st - Charlie Butler, of Manjimup 2nd - Lincon Adam, of Manjimup 3rd - Hunter Davies, of Perth 65cc 7-U10 Yrs 1st - Marcus Street, of Bunbury 2nd - Jobi Scott, of Perth 3rd - Zachary Bond, of Perth 85cc/ 150cc 12-U16 Yrs 1st - Deegan Fort, of Perth 2nd - Seth Cleary, of Perth 3rd - Xavier Balinski, of Bunbury 85cc/ 150cc 9-U12 Yrs 1st - Brax Chetwynd, of Perth 2nd - Bam Hill, of Perth 3rd - Charlie Butler, of Manjimup Clubman Lites 1st - Tate Paganini, of Manjimup 2nd - Jaxson Turner, of Perth 3rd - Joel Petley, of Perth Clubman Open 1st - Wil McGannon, of Mandurah 2nd - Sheldon Gill, of Perth 3rd - Brodie Howe, of Perth Masters 40+ Yrs 1st - James Craig, of Manjimup 2nd - Paul Smithson, of Manjimup 3rd - Russell Lightfoot, of Perth MX1 1st - Luke Davis, of Perth 2nd - Deacon Paice, of Perth 3rd - Jordan Minear, of Perth MX2 1st - Deacon Paice, of Perth 2nd - Jordan Minear, of Perth 3rd - Cody Heggs, of Perth MXV Veteran 30-39 Yrs 1st - Luke Few, of Bunbury 2nd - Brendan Vassallo, of Manjimup 3rd - Bradley Colman, of Perth MXW Women 1st - Che’ Ebert, of Perth 2nd - Lauren Cook, of Perth 3rd - Charlie Blee, of Manjimup Shootout - 65cc 1st - Charlie Butler, of Manjimup 2nd - Marcus Street, of Bunbury 3rd - Slate Johns, of Bunbury Shootout - 85cc/150cc 9-U12 Yrs 1st - Brax Chetwynd, of Perth 2nd - Bam Hill, of Perth 3rd - Albie Reeve, of Perth Shootout - 85cc/150cc 12-U16 Yrs 1st - Deegan Fort, of Perth 2nd - Brody Bachos, of Manjimup 3rd - Joel Leech, of Manjimup Shootout - 125cc / 250cc 13-u16 Yrs 1st - Patrick Butler, of Manjimup 2nd - Sonny Pellicano, of Perth 3rd - Charlie Weightman, of Perth Shootout - Senior All In 1st - Luke Davis, of Perth 2nd - Deacon Paice, of Perth 3rd - Charlie Reid, of Cowaramup