VINEYARD'S talented young motocross star Mackenzie Tricker, 14, has made her presence felt on the national stage again with a brilliant series of rides in the junior girls' category at the Australian Junior Motocross Championships in Maffra, Victoria, last month.

Tricker mixed it with the best teenage girl riders to record a magnificent second place finish after the collating of points from a five-race final series in bitterly cold weather, and on an extremely challenging circuit that included an ominous mix of sand sections, hard pack, fast straights and tight 180 degree turns.

With more than 300 riders in the categories, the ground was quickly dug up and made very rough for the riders.

Tricker's age group didn't include qualifying heats and she set herself the goal of a top-three finish setting the bar high, with last year's top-three all still in the age group.

Her work with trainer Steve Moylan and riding coach Shane Booth paid off as she started with a third placing in race one to Meagan Rutledge and Courtney Hirst.

Knowing she needed another level, Tricker quickly found it and went neck and neck with Rutledge for the rest of the event in a epic fight for the title, trading places at the front of the fields throughout.

Rutledge's experience got her over the line with Tricker second, but the Vineyard girl's great improvement will stand her in good stead for the two years she still has in the class.

The Yamaha Junior Development Team also played a big part in her success, as did sponsors Axo and Kenda.