In what was a gritty and determined effort, Western Australian BCP HAS Honda Junior Development team rider Leah Rimbas has claimed an impressive 2nd place overall at the 2024 National Junior MX Titles despite dislocating her shoulder less than two weeks ago in a practice crash!
 
“It was a race against time for us and for a while there I didn’t think we’d be lining up to race on day 1,” said Rimbas.
“We’d put in so much work training throughout the year for this one event and to pop my shoulder out for the first time was quite scary. I thought it had all been for nothing!”
 
Rimbas put herself through a stringent series of rehab therapy with her physiotherapist and combined with strapping the shoulder prior to each race was able to line up this week and battle right the way to the checkered flag.
 
“The shoulder was sore, but it didn’t feel like it was going to pop out again which was the main thing,” said Rimbas.
 
The WA girl would score an impressive 2-2-2-3-2 in her five motos giving her a total of 108 points. Finishing 8 points shy of eventual winner, New Zealander Karaitiana Horne and 5 points ahead of fellow Honda rider Madi Simpson.
 
“I would have loved to have won the title in my final year as a junior but I’m real happy with how I raced considering my shoulder. It was great racing pretty much a full grid of girls out there!”
 
Team manager Lee Hogan was blown away with his riders efforts throughout the week.
 
“Leah has had such an incredible year, going undefeated in her WA State Titles campaign and was in such good form coming into this week,” said Hogan.
“I was so gutted for her when I got the call but we put a good rehab plan in place for the next 10 days and kept our fingers crossed. She’s such a tough fighter out there on the track and I couldn’t be more proud of her second place here at the National Junior Titles.”