Pattaya teenager Atiyuth Tiengthongkam, otherwise known as Nong Aun, walked away from the Kemaman Motocross (KMX) International Challenge last month after being crowned a double junior (up to 15 years) 85cc champion and earning plaudits from all in attendance.
Aun, just 15 years old, is a student at the Aksorn Pattaya Technology College and has been racing bikes since the tender age of 5. He first started to develop an interest in bike racing after observing his father Amornrat, also a motocross rider, compete in events around the country.
After being coached by his dad, Nong Aun made rapid progress through the junior ranks and used his time after school to practice and hone his riding skills. He became the Thailand 50cc bike champion at both 7 and 9 years of age and success has followed him at every subsequent level since.
Presently, Aun has no main sponsors other than his family who try to coordinate with friends to help support the young racer and send him to domestic and overseas events, and also Husqvarna Motorcycles, where his dad works and who supported him with motorcycle usage and arranged his scholarship with the technical college.
Nong Aun spends his leisure time practicing at the motocross field in Khao Mai Kaew just outside Pattaya. He is currently training hard for the next year’s competitions, aiming for gold at the Thailand Championship and also looking to defend his Asian championship titles in 2019.
The Kemaman Motocross International Challenge last month at Monica Bay featured top riders from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Nong Aun was victorious in both the 85cc MX junior championship and the MX 2-stroke event.
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