It’s another thing for a 12-year-old to place second overall in one of the junior divisions.

For Luke Chellas from Parkes, he has done both.

On the weekend of July 8 and 9, the Red Bend Catholic College student battled the sands of Hattah, near Mildura, Victoria, in this year’s event.

He competed in a field of 85 riders in the Junior Small Wheels division on the Saturday aboard a Husky 85.

Chellas raced the 80 kilometre track for an hour and a half, having only one fuel stop.

He crossed the finish line second in his 85 class and second overall in the division.

“I competed last year and came seventh overall with no preparation, so this year I was really going to push for the win,” Chellas said.

Chellas was raring to go from the beginning and said it was the start and finish of his race that were his highlights.

“Because you’re pretty pumped with all the bikes taking off at once,” he said.

“And everyone [was] cheering me on up the pit straight on my last lap.

“I gave it everything but I just couldn’t catch the local boy Max Phillips.”

Chellas decided to compete at Hattah because he wanted to challenge himself.

“It’s really rough and fun, but you just keep thinking about staying on and going fast,” he said.

“The track changes every time you go round, from fast sections to sand and whoops (a series of small moguls or hills).

“I pulled up pretty good because I train hard all year.”

Chellas’ silver title is quite the feat for someone who’s been racing bikes since he was 7 years old.

In preparation for Hattah, Chellas spent many hours training with his enduro coach and mechanic Foodge Burrell from Parkes and accomplished enduro campaigner Nic Tomlinson from Forbes.

“I trained pretty hard with Foodge and Nic – the push helped,” he said.

“I thanked them in my speech.”

And what does Chellas love about racing?

“I love the battle – [it’s] good fun with your mates,” he said.

Chellas would like to thank his major sponsors, Robertsons Motorcycles of Dubbo and Northbound Driver Training, for their support.