Trent Liddle Collins isn't a name most will recognise. If you don't, you soon will as this young KTM rider from Cambridge with his smooth style and raw speed is making a name for himself fast and one of New Zealand's top young up and comers. We sat down with Trent after he had just got back from winning the New Zealand Mini Motocross Nationals.

HS: So Trent, first things first. Who are you and why should people know who you are?

Trent: My name is Trent Collins, I live in Cambridge and I'm 8 years old. My biggest accomplishments are winning the 2006 Mini North Islands and Nationals, I also won the 2008 Mini North Islands and Nationals. I also won the 2008 Taupo International. I have won this event three years in a row.

HS: You had a good weekend at the mini nationals 2 weeks ago. You won every race you entered from what I recall.  From the outside it appeared easy but it wasn't quite like that was it?

Trent: I won the first 2 races on the Saturday. The 3^rd race I got a real bad start and then there was a 1^st turn corner crash that had blocked most of the track, by this time I was way back in the field, I stayed focused and pushed hard to finish 5^th in that race, I wish there had been a couple of more laps as I was getting near the guys at the front.

I went into Sunday with a 5 point lead, I just had to stay focused, that what's Mum and Dad kept saying. I won all the races on the Sunday and finished 1^st overall. This was only my 8^th ride back after my brain injury, and I also won the Mini North Islands which was only my 4^th race back. I had 5 months off with a brain injury (Was diagnosed as a haematoma on the brain after a practise crash on the 65). I have kept my winning 50, the bike I won the nationals on, but mum said I can't do any more starts in my bedroom, not after last time ha-ha.

HS: That's a pretty big injury to have mate, what made you want to come back and ride again?

Trent: I really enjoy riding and I missed it heaps when I was off the bike.

HS: You have moved onto a 65 now as well I understand? Do you like that bike?

Trent: Yeah I am on the 65 now, I like it, and it's heaps faster than the 50. I'm getting a 2009 65 from KTM, it should arrive on the 3^rd December.

HS: What's your goals for the rest of the year and next?

Trent: I haven't set any goals at the moment; I'll just wait and see what happens.

HS: You want to be a pro rider when you're older?
Trent: Yeah I do, and I'm working my way towards that.

HS: Luke Burkhart has said good things about you. You must be pretty excited by that?

Trent: Yeah I really like Luke, he always has time to talk to me. When I was off with the brain injury I asked mum to dye my hair black like Luke's, she did that and when I spoke to Luke at Rotorua he said he had just dyed his hair blue black, so I made mum redo mine blue black. I really look up to Luke and I want to be like him when I'm older but I don't want to have an injury to my wrist.

HS: What's your favourite thing about motocross?

Trent: I really like jumping and just being on the bike.

HS: There must be some good people out there helping you do what you do? Who do you want to thank?

Trent: I'd like to thank my sponsor's KTM, Patterson O'Conner, Fox, Scott, CSC, Motorex Oil, Freddy's discs and Mum and Dad for all the time and effort they put into me with motocross.

Obviously without parental support there is no Mini Motocross, and as every champion will tell you, their parents have backed them 100%. Trent is no different and his parents Allan and Melissa have supported him through everything hes gone through so far, I asked them a few questions on their thoughts about Mini Mx and having such a focused young champion in the house.

HS: You guys must be pretty proud of Trent's accomplishments, especially with what he's achieved since the injury?

Trent's Parents: Yes we definitely are. When Trent first got back on the bike we thought he would have gone backwards for a bit but he was faster than ever. We were really quite surprised.

HS: You copped a bit of flak when Trent made his return to racing. People where saying he shouldn't have been racing after a head injury like that. Obviously a lot of it wasn't said to your face. What do you have to say about the issue in general and the people that where behind it?

Trent's Parents: We definitely copped some flack from some parents when Trent returned. After Trent's injury we sat down and talked with him. We told him if he wanted to call it a day with motocross we would support him all the way. Trent said he didn't want to give up and he was going to race again. We told him we'd support him 100%. We have always tried to let Trent make his own decisions. And this is what Trent wanted to do was go back and race and we think parents need to realise it's not always about themselves.

HS: If there are people reading this interview that are thinking about getting involved in the sport for the first time, what would you say to them?

Trent's Parents: Motocross is a family orientated sport you meet some real nice families and you get to spend a lot of time with your kids and enjoy what they enjoy doing.

HS: Trent's had his turn to thank everyone, anyone you guys want to thank?

Trent's Parents: We'd like to thank family, friends and our daughter Savannah for all their support during Trent's recovery. I would like to make a huge thank you to Paul Ottaway(KTM), Mike Rule(KTM), and Ian Standring(SportsPro) for all their help and support throughout the year with Trent's racing and also their support throughout Trent's injury and recovery. They truly are amazing people. Thank you so much.

HS: Hey guy's thanks for you time and see you at the races.

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