BUSY BOY: Orange's Cody Burcher has been competitive on kart tracks around NSW.
ORANGE’S Cody Burcher waged an epic battle with his main rival at the Alan Cox Memorial Cup in Tamworth on the weekend.
Burcher contested the cadets class in Tamworth and challenged one of the top competitors in NSW, Zac Crighton from the Central Coast.
It was a fantastic weekend for the Orange karter who finished second in his class and improved his lap record on the Tamworth track by 1.2 seconds.
The cadets (9-11 years) and rookies (11-13 years) joined together for combined field during the two-day event.
Nine-year-old Burcher fought hard in the three heats but finished second in each behind Crighton.
In the pre-final, Burcher, racing a TopKart-built kart, had an excellent start and established a lead on Crighton.
However, the Orange karter was slowly brought back to the field after he was held up by a slow rookie driver.
In the last lap Burcher had the lead but on the third-last corner the Orange karter had to avoid an accident and Crighton was able to make a move up the inside and take the win ahead of Burcher.
The Orange karter again had a great start in the final and led for the first eight laps in the 15-lap race.
Crighton then moved to the front and Burcher was unable to pass him.
Crighton took out top spot and Burcher finished second.
The second place in the Tamworth capped off a busy two months for Burcher.
The nine-year-old has placed fourth in the Gold Cup in Dubbo, first in Orange with a PB lap time, fifth in Lithgow and second in Tamworth and was selected in the Castrol Cadets for the CIK at Eastern Creek.
He will have this weekend off but will be contesting race meetings in Canberra, Eastern Creek, Newcastle and Port Macquarie for the C Grade Titles and other local races between now and Christmas.
As well as being a competitive karter, Burcher also plays soccer for CYMS and rugby union for Orange Emus.