And it’s all the result of his ability to go downhill at speed.

The 12-year-old Wallerawang local is a national champion after his first place finish at the 2017 Downhill National Championships at Mt Joyce, Queensland.

Remarkably Wil’s success came in only his second race back from injury after breaking his wrist in December.

He competed in the under 13s division and finished the course in 3:16.50, 2.73 seconds ahead of second place.

Wil said it felt “pretty good” to achieve his goal to win the championship after finishing second last year.

Although not one to blow his own trumpet, Wil’s older brother Pacey also did exceedingly well at the national championships as he finished second in the under 17s age group.

Pacey was edged out for first place by 1.76 seconds, just behind Canberra’s Kye A’hern.

Wil’s training schedule includes slamming his way down the downhill course at the Lithgow Pony Club 10-15 times a week.

The Stockton brothers are away most weekends with father Corey as they tackle rounds of the state championships and other races.

Wil will travel much further to Canada in August as he takes on the world’s best juniors at the Crankworx invitational event.

This will be his second time at Crankworx after heading along to the competition in 2016.

It has been a rapid rise for Wil who has only been downhill riding since the age of nine. His long-term goal is to become a professional rider on the Mountain Bike World Cup circuit.

Downhill racing never fails to get the adrenaline pumping and Wil’s approach is simple.

“Nervous at the top, just give it all you got in race run I guess… just pedal, get sections clean, no mistakes.”