Courtney Duncan (13), of Palmerston, did her best to beat the Australians in Sunday's struggle for transtasman motocross supremacy.
Riding in the 15-strong New Zealand team at the Oceania Motocross Championships, she finished second-equal in the 85cc class with Queensland rider Joel Dinsdale.
Duncan finished 2-3 and Dinsdale was 3-2 in the two outings.
Micah McGoldrick was New Zealand's stand-out rider, winning both his 85cc class races.
It was not enough to better the Australians, who took the title by 18 points at the Harrisville track, just outside Pukekohe.
McGoldrick's fellow 12-15 years 85cc class rider, Joel Meikle (12), had a "bit of a mixed bag'' on Sunday with crashes in both his outings. The first race saw a rut propel the Oamaru youngster into long grass trackside but he was still able to finish.
Then he went down on the first corner of his second race before remounting his motorbike and continuing.
His father, Justin, said it was a good experience for Joel to measure himself against an international field.
On the Saturday, he was third overall in the Auckland motocross championships' 11-12 years 85cc class and winner of the 12-16 years 150cc class. The latter category was contested by only three riders, making it more of a practice ride, Meikle sen said.
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