Future Stars: Kenzie Cossey on working with his ‘idol’ grandad

Kenzie Cossey and his grandad Trevor Hedge.

In the second of a new series, we catch up with some of the future stars of motorsport that Adrian Flux has sponsored. In this instalment, we bring you the heartwarming tale of Kenzie Cossey – a grasstrack rider being guided by his idol and former speedway-racing grandad, Trevor Hedge.

Trevor Hedge, an international speedway star

Speedway and motorcycle racing is in Kenzie Cossey’s blood.

His grandad Trevor Hedge was an international speedway star who rode 22 times for England, made 16 appearances for Great Britain and won a string of team and individual titles.

As a result, his mum Tracy grew up with the smell of methanol-fuelled engines filling her nostrils. Her brother – Kenzie’s uncle – is a mechanic and so was her late husband so when it comes to two wheels, it’s always been a family affair.

Those ties remain stronger than ever today. His uncle Gavin Hedge is his mechanic while Trevor passes on his years of prized sliding expertise and insight as well as being Kenzie’s engine tuner.

A treasured photo from the family album of a very young Kenzie Cossey on one of his first motorbikes.

Learning from ‘Hedgey’, one of the best

“I know he’s a hero,” smiled Kenzie, now 16, of his grandad who is known fondly as Hedgey or Hedge-Hopper in speedway circles.

“He’s still doing engines as a business and does mine and he’s a bit of an idol of mine as he was one of the best I guess. He was an international rider that I look up to. He loves that I race and he wants me to do well. Him being my grandad does make the pressure quite high but I’ve got used to it and I’ve got to get on with it.

“He encourages me, gives me tips and tries to help me progress. He’s a very wise guy.

From the age of six it’s all been about grasstrack racing for the now 16-year-old from Barford, near Norwich. But his future might be heading in a slightly different direction.

Team Kenzie, from left: Gavin Hedge, Tracy Cossey, Kenzie Cossey and Trevor Hedge.

Grasstrack ace Kenzie Cossey on his speedway dream

Unlike speedway, which takes place on shale, Kenzie’s circuit is on a grass field. Two straights and two corners mirror the tracks his grandad used to race on, but up to 12 riders, rather than four, do battle when it’s time to turn the throttle.

It’s something the teenager wants to keep doing even though he’s swapping Hethersett Academy for a Level Three Engineering course at University Technical College this September – and eyeing oval racing of a slightly different kind.

“I’d like to get into speedway and hopefully I’ll get some bikes sorted as I get older so I can race like grandad did,” said Kenzie.

“I’ll be going from a rough surface to smooth shale so hopefully I’ll be ok making the transition. Racing grasstrack should help and I’ve done some laps on a speedway track already.

“I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave grasstrack though. It’s just great and I love the community of it all. It’s different, quite raw, and I love the feeling of freedom and competitiveness.”

Kenzie getting it sideways.
Kenzie getting it sideways. Picture: JW Photography

Racing mum Tracy Cossey reveals her fears

Kenzie will compete in the British Youth Grasstrack Championships for the final time at Frittenden on 24 July. 

He’ll move up to the senior age-group after this appearance and departing from the youth scene as a winner, like he became in 2014, remains a burning ambition.

So does the desire to add much-needed bikes to his collection as opportunities to race across Europe continue to arise.

“After my husband passed it’s been even more of a struggle financially,” admitted Tracy.

“As Kenzie has moved up the age groups it’s been harder to keep him going. Some riders have two, three or four bikes, he’s got one and two engines. It can be stressful so when we get great support like we have from Adrian Flux it can take your mind off the worries.

“I’m behind Kenzie in every way, we all are, even if everyone knows I peep watch. When he was on a 65cc they were good times, now he’s on bigger bikes I get very nervous and watch through my fingers. I’m just relieved when the races are over.”

Given Kenzie’s love of sliding at up to 70mph, it looks like his mum will have a few more years of peep watching to come.

Enjoyed the story on Kenzie? Why not read the first in our Future Stars series, the story of motocross star Ollie Colmer.

Kenzie Cossey and his grandad Trevor Hedge.

Kenzie Cossey with his idol.

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