- Third in his rookie Sportbike season, Nixon Frost is targeting the title in year two
- The 15-year-old has already raced internationally in Australia and Asia
- Superbikes, Europe and MotoAmerica are all part of his longer-term ambitions
He might carry one of the most recognisable surnames in New Zealand road racing, but 15-year-old Nixon Frost already has a national championship of his own. After winning the 2025 NZ Supersport 150 title, stepping up to Suzuki’s GSX-8R and racing internationally in Australia and Asia, the young Kiwi has his sights set on adding a Sportbike title – and eventually much bigger things.
Having Sloan Frost as your dad probably has its advantages when you decide you want to race motorcycles.
A former New Zealand Superbike champion knows a thing or two about getting around a racetrack quickly, after all.
But at just 15 years old, Nixon Frost is already moving out of his father’s shadow and establishing himself as one of New Zealand’s most promising young road racers.
BRM caught up with Nixon at the opening round of the Auckland Motorcycle Club Championship at Hampton Downs, where he was beginning his second season aboard the Suzuki GSX-8R.
After finishing third in his rookie season, Nixon isn’t being shy about what he wants this time around.
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A Title In His Sights
BRM: You’re back on the GSX-8R again this year. What’s the target?
NIXON: As everyone says, I’m hoping to win! I think I’ve got a solid shot this year. Last year was my rookie season on the bike and I finished third, which I was really happy with despite having a few crashes.
It was really good to spend that season learning the new Suzuki GSX-8R and getting an overall feel for the Sportbike class. Now I’m really used to it. I feel at home on the bike and I think we’ve got a solid shot at winning.
BRM: It’s shaping up to be a pretty competitive class, isn’t it?
It’s stacked. There are some seriously good riders in there – guys like Zach Fuller, Tyler King, Cameron Leslie and others. And there are riders with experience from all sorts of racing, so it’s going to be a really competitive field.
I think Sportbike is going to become one of the premier classes this year.
“I feel at home on the bike and I think we’ve got a solid shot at winning.”
BRM: Are you concentrating solely on the GSX-8R this season?
Yeah, I’m just going to focus on the Sportbike class. Last year I was swapping between two bikes and it’s actually quite difficult. There’s a big difference in speed and handling, so every time you jump from one to the other you’ve got to readjust.
By concentrating on the Sportbike, I can really get myself into the mindset of racing that bike and hopefully get the most out of it.
Taking On The World
BRM: You’ve already done quite a bit of racing outside New Zealand. Tell us about that.
I’ve raced in Australia and also went to Asia to compete in the TVS series. That was really cool because I was the first Kiwi to race in that series.
It’s incredibly professional and the bikes are basically purpose-built race machines. I came into the championship as a wildcard from round two and I think I ended up around 10th overall, which I was really happy with. The level of competition was insane.
There were riders there who’d competed at really high international levels, so you’re suddenly racing against guys with a huge amount of experience.
BRM: What were the bikes like?
They were TVS Apache RR 310s, but the series is really a bike-development programme as well.
They start from the road bike’s basic engine and frame and then develop them into proper race bikes. They had things like full carbon-fibre bodywork and were really cool machines.
The whole environment was just incredibly professional.
“To get better, you have to be around people who are better than you.”
BRM: How much does racing against that level of competition improve you as a rider?
Massively. To get better, you have to be around people who are better than you.
If you’re always racing people at exactly your own level, you’re only going to progress so far. But when you jump in at the deep end against riders who have competed at really high levels, you’ve got no choice but to step your game up.
You learn so much just from racing with them. Then you come back to New Zealand and you’re a better rider because of it. You see it with lots of Kiwi riders. Dad did it, Tyler King has done it – they’ve gone overseas, raced at a higher level and then come home stronger.
Paying The Price
BRM: Are you hoping to keep racing in Australia?
Definitely. I’d really like to keep racing over there and potentially move onto a 600.
The problem, as always, is money. Racing isn’t cheap and stepping up to a 600 puts the cost of everything through the roof. If I can scrape together enough money, though, I’m 100 percent keen to do it.
BRM: How do you fund racing at 15?
It’s pretty hard. Mum and Dad put a lot into it and I’ve taken on some jobs myself, doing bits of work to earn some more towards it. We’ve also got some really good people helping behind the scenes. Suzuki New Zealand has been amazing, along with Whites, Alpinestars and the Black family.
“Pretty much all the money goes into motorcycles. Food comes second!”
There are lots of people helping fund my racing and I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. Pretty much all the money goes into motorcycles. Food comes second!
The Next Step
BRM: Your dad is developing a GSX-R1000. Have you ridden it yet?
Not that one yet. But Dad has already said that once the new bike is ready, I’ll be riding it. I’m 15 now and turn 16 in October, which is when I’d normally be old enough to race it.
I’ve ridden Dad’s Hayabusa, though. That was amazing!
When I got back onto my GSX-8R afterwards, a bike I’d always thought had plenty of torque suddenly felt like it had nothing. Riding bigger and faster bikes helps because when you get back onto your normal race bike, everything feels easier.
“I’d like to get another Superbike championship for the Frost name.”
BRM: Is the conventional next step a 600, or could you potentially go straight towards Superbikes?
A 600 would definitely be cool. But as Dad probably mentioned, it’s a really big financial step to race one for potentially only one or two seasons.
I think I’ve got the skills to race a Superbike. I’m sure I’d do well on a 600 and there would be plenty to learn, but there’s also the question of whether it’s worth spending all that money before moving up again.
I’d like to get another Superbike championship for the Frost name. That would be pretty cool.
A Boxing Day Debut
BRM: Before that, you’ve got a full season ahead of you here.
Yep. We’ll be doing the full series on the Sportbike. And this will be my first year racing at the Cemetery Circuit, which I’m really excited about. It looks kind of scary, but it’s going to be amazing.
I’ve always wanted to race there. Dad has had a lot of success there and it’s one of his favourite events.
For us, it’s always been a tradition to go to Whanganui for Boxing Day, so to actually be out there racing on the circuit myself is going to be really special.
Plenty Of Time
BRM: Then the Nationals?
Yep. We’ll finish the series and then head south for the Nationals. After that, nothing is confirmed, but we’re looking at what other opportunities might be available around the world.
There are a few possibilities. Maybe something in Europe. MotoAmerica would be awesome – I’d love to go racing in America. Really, anything that allows me to expand my experience and race against different people would be cool.
BRM: It’s easy to forget you’re still only 15…
A lot of people think I’m older than I am because I’ve been around racing for quite a while. I started racing when I was about 11.
Now I’m racing against guys who are three, four or more years older than me, so I think people forget sometimes. I’ve still got plenty of time.
And I can’t even drive the truck yet!
