Narrogin teen brings home her first Australia ATV Nationals trophy showing racing prowess at Northam

A Narrogin young gun has claimed her first national title after a superb display at the 2024 Australian ATV Motocross National Championships held in Northam last month. Up against the fastest ATV riders in Australia on September 13-15, Amira Schmid showcased her racing prowess by claiming the women’s title after seven years of participating in the annual ATV competition. The 19-year-old carried a comfortable lead during her two Saturday races, rattling the 2023 champion Emma Lavercombe. Amira continued to lead the pack in her first two races on Sunday, she cleared the 1.9km hard-pack track in almost exactly two minutes, averaging six to seven laps per race and easily qualifying for the final. Despite her impeccable speed, she had fallen into the second spot early in the wake of her fifth and final race when her competitor got the ‘hole shot’, leaving Amira tailing her at the first corner. Leaning on her valuable riding experience, Amira snatched back the lead by the third corner on the first lap and kept a tight distance between her opponents to seal the national title with a five-race sweep. “I was absolutely overjoyed when I won, after many years of bad luck in the racing game to finally have me and the bike hold up and it all work out was just the best feeling ever,” Amira said. “It made me so extremely happy and I felt very proud. “I felt very free and content while riding, I had so much fun and I didn’t feel any pressure from the behind races, even when they were closer purely because I enjoyed it so much. “I need to thank everyone who supported me in the journey to winning because I couldn’t have done it without them.” Rohan Schmid was still riding the high from his recent Tri-Series junior division win on September 7 and becoming the WA State champion on August 24 before his mixed junior 450cc nationals race. The 16-year-old had put up a brave fight against his rivals, including his younger sister Riona, but fell just short and finished an impressive second place. Riona displayed impressive resilience throughout the competition after falling from her Apex 250 twice over her five races but still jumped back on to complete the event where she finished eighth overall. Mum Dina Schmid said many fellow riders were impressed with the style of riding Riona displayed and her resilience at a young age. The youngest sibling, Ziara Schmid, made her ATV Nationals debut competing in the eight to 11-year-old mixed class, the youngest age bracket, on her Yamaha 90cc. Ziara finished fourth and is evidently set to follow in her eldest sister’s championing footsteps. “It was amazing for it to be held in WA because normally we have to travel Australia to go to those events,” Dina said. “We had perfect weather, it was perfect conditions, it really was how you wish it to be.”