Young blood

[neil_cb125t]

Hi guys,
As the WSB and GP get into full swing it dawns on me that we { kiwi's } Love watching the "gods" of racing blaze up the tacks that are specificly design to make a rider blow his load during the first lap.
Why dont we have any body there following Aaron steps.
Ive gone throu Aaron slight's, Possum Bonres and Greg Murphy's books and there is one thing that they all have in common aside from being at the top of their game for a very long time. They started YOUNG!!

How many YOUNG riders are coming to road racing, with a passion that is clear and purely focussed on road racing. I started as a hobbie and like mosty am addicted but it will still be a hobbie unless i wake up with an RC211 in my garage tomorrow.

Vic club ae starting a program with 2 RG150's to lend out to NEW YOUNG {ie junior from 14 up to around 18} people who wanna give it a go which a great idea. If anyone has someone they would think that would definitly be keen get in touch with Vic club.

As Aaron put It NZ is more than a world away in learning and competing on bikes but Aussie is not!! It's a 3 hour flight away. Yes it's easier said than done.

Most guys that race ae olde lets get some young blood out there,
Would be great to see a NZ flag back on the podium in WSB or even Better GP!

[Coyote]

I started riding when I'm 13 and I feel like I haven't started early enough to actually get anywhere. Especially on the dirt. And I don't have much money either, I haven't even got money for a sprocket

Success is for the rich

[far queue]

Success is for the rich
Bullshit. If you want it bad enough you can do it, don't sell yourself short mate.

[FROSTY]

I started riding when I'm 13 and I feel like I haven't started early enough to actually get anywhere. Especially on the dirt. And I don't have much money either, I haven't even got money for a sprocket

Success is for the rich
As per previous poster --If ya want it bad enough you WILL find a way to get it.

[gpercivl]

I've loaned bikes to a couple of young guys that wanted to get into racing. I had a little bit of spare money and they had the talent. The first guy was on my ex. Dave Cole YZF600R which at the time was probably the quickest F2 bike in NZ (1998) he finished 9th in the Nat's for his first year then the following year we had engine problems plus the other bikes had caught up and he was 15th but finished 5th in BOS on his '99 R6. He got to within 1 or 2 secs of the fastest guys on the track but gave up due to work and other things in his life becoming more important.

The 2nd guy is out there now on my old '87 400 which is an underpowered dog with good brakes and light weight (still working on suspension and 450 motor), but he's riding the wheels off it. He told me once that as a kid all he ever wanted to do was go out and race motorbikes and it shows.

What it also shows is that if you have the ambition to succeed at motorcycle racing (or anything in life) you'll find a way to do it, and you'll make the opportunities to race globally happen.

NZ has some great talent coming thru now. Look at Craig Shirriffs! Stroud and 4 overseas riders couldn't get near him in the 600 nationals. Sam Smith, Hayden Fitzgerald (give him a faster bike), Karl Morgan, Jay Lawrence and a whole bunch of others in the 17 to 25 age group could go anywhere if they have the ambition and can get a little help.

If you want to get into road racing start out on buckets, a few hundred $$$ is all you need, pump gas at night or whatever earns some $$$, get to a track, meet people and get out riding. Talent is easy to spot on the track if you're out there someone like me or a few other people I know out there will loan you a bike.

Don't say it's too difficult and don't give up if you really want it (also it's heaps of fun).

[slowpoke]

Good on ya mate, great to see people investing that sort of time effort AND money into our sport.
Just an observation, other than getting people involved in the first place is there really much requirement to encourage people to STAY in the sport? The type of person who is going to be successful at an elite level will already be driven and passionate about what they are doing.
Then again, maybe in this age where riders are a marketing tool as much as anything and given the miniscule market that NZ represents globally, we may NEVER see a NZ rider given an opportunity on the world stage, no matter how worthy they be.

[Sparky Bills]

Lets face it...
If you want to get to SBK level, you need to get the hell out of this country!
Theres no other way.

[roogazza]

Lets face it...
If you want to get to SBK level, you need to get the hell out of this country!
Theres no other way.

I think it has been shown many times before, win here first ! I have a very good mate who , when we were in our twenties said to me "I'm going to be the Best " !!!!!!!! He bought a new RD400 and proceeded to win 33 races out of 33 starts ! He then carried on through other Production classes with similar results. He went to England and i think from memory he was third in the World Formula One championship at his first attempt.
Shows every time, our best are as good as anywhere !
( Dave Hiscock was his name. )

Whats the Nike Ad ? Just do it ! G.

[MSTRS]

Success is for the rich
I'm with them in saying 'Bullshit'. Success is for the determined. Or for whoever fancies Cess

[mattt]

I'm with them in saying 'Bullshit'. Success is for the determined. Or for whoever fancies Cess

So if Ifalofa Soefa of Otara who works at Foodtown wants to get his 5th youngest son out on the track at puke- what would the easiest way for him to do it be? Rob a(nother) bank?

It'd probably be more like "Here ya go son, go kick this around" and pass him a rugby ball.

[ZorsT]

If its the parents who want their youngin's out on the track, the youngins won't be as determined as if it was the youngins that wanted to be out there (if that makes sence)

I pay for all my riding and (limited) racing out of my own pocket. Money I earned from an afterschool and weekend job.

Did Aaron Slight start with his dad buying him a bike, and telling him to get out there?

[MSTRS]

Zorst is right. Motivation is an inside job. Those that have it will eventually find a way to achieve their goal(s).
That fulla in Otara would be advised to tell his boy to get a JOB.

[Ivan]

Ok I agree succsess is for the determined take RG100!! for example he has tons of skill and is going places I have more of a racing budget than he does and he beats me money has nothing to do with it it does kinda to pay entry fees etc but thats it