How can a 14yr old make his way to the top?

[Coyote]

I'm only 14 and I've recently started to race with the Wellington Bucket Racing club in a junior supermotard class and I really want to get into top road racing with proper 1000cc race bikes. Only I dont know how to get there. How do I make my way up to such a high level of racing?

[Ms Piggy]

I have no idea sorry but, good on ya!! :niceone: Go for it! If you want it enough you'll get there!

[Blakamin]

I'm only 14 and I've recently started to race with the Wellington Bucket Racing club in a junior supermotard class and I really want to get into top road racing with proper 1000cc race bikes. Only I dont know how to get there. How do I make my way up to such a high level of racing?
What you riding??? i will say hello at the next meeting (spectator)(and when is it?)
practice is the only way i can think of!

[Coyote]

I'm riding in what they call supermotard. Thats were you put road tyres on a MX bike and go racing around. The only chance I get using the bike is with the Wellington Bucket Club cause they let us with our motards race with them. It's a whole lot of fun. Plus, just switch the tyres round and your ready for the dirt. There is also supermoto where part of the track is dirt, therefore theres jumps. I havent tried it but it sounds awesome.

[Blakamin]

I'm riding in what they call supermotard. Thats were you put road tyres on a MX bike and go racing around. The only chance I get using the bike is with the Wellington Bucket Club cause they let us with our motards race with them. It's a whole lot of fun. Plus, just switch the tyres round and your ready for the dirt. There is also supermoto where part of the track is dirt, therefore theres jumps. I havent tried it but it sounds awesome.
Were you at the Tawa meet las time??? i was there all dressed in black on my Zeal... till about 11.30... was frozen!
Next time you'll spot me... got a KB sticker on my screen!
when is the next buckets??

[pete376403]

I'm only 14 and I've recently started to race with the Wellington Bucket Racing club in a junior supermotard class and I really want to get into top road racing with proper 1000cc race bikes. Only I dont know how to get there. How do I make my way up to such a high level of racing?

You progress by winning the class that you're in now. Get noticed by people. Always make sure you and your gear look as good as you can. Andy McGetchan (sp?) from Kiwi Rider has written articles about sponsorship and the like. it boils down to getting noticed, getting written about.
And the jump from an 80 to a 1000 might be a bit much to do in one hit - spend time on 150s, 250s, 400s and so on.
It will be expensive in time, money and pain.

[Joni]

Alarumba, Motoracer will be back in NZ next week, he will be able to give you a few real good pointers... I would suggest you talk to him...

[Coyote]

And the jump from an 80 to a 1000 might be a bit much to do in one hit - spend time on 150s, 250s, 400s and so on.
It will be expensive in time, money and pain.

I know I have to progress. Just I don't know who the clubs are and where. I was thinking about possibly joining a 125 club, but I assume the nearest track is Manfeild Raceway. I could go there on occasion but if it became a constant going for 3 hours by car to manfeild thing, it might become to much on my Dad (If it wasnt for his support, I wouldnt even be thinking of this). I guess all I can do (at least till I leave home and get a job) is stick to my motard, and help my dad whenever I can.

[Coyote]

Were you at the Tawa meet las time??? i was there all dressed in black on my Zeal... till about 11.30... was frozen!
Next time you'll spot me... got a KB sticker on my screen!
when is the next buckets??

I'm the new kid on the old '95 KX80. I was the one who had the guy in the car drive in front of me. Luckily I slowed down thinking 'jeez, is he going over that tape? Better slow down just in case'.

As for the Next Buckets, I have no idea.

[Posh Tourer :P]

If Manfield is too far away, try dirt racing too, motocross and such like, or even speedway/flat-tracking.

As Motu will tell you, all the good American WSBK/MotoGP were flat-trackers, hence they, especially Colin Edwards, are happy sliding the tyres around a bit, and riding on the ragged edge.

Dirt-biking can be a good start for racing, so if it is easier to go that way, you can do so.

The other option is to get to know someone who goes up to Manfield for all the races, and get transport that way. Race 125s are a fairly big class, and after that, Clubmans, F3, F2 and F1. F3 requires a 4cyl 400 eg ZXR400, then I dunno above that. Win classes, and then move up. You could probably get a 400 that isnt road legal relatively cheaply if you are prepared to do the mechanical work. If you want to get into racing, be prepared to do lots of your own mechanical work.....

Thats basically what I've picked up. But I have no desire to go racing, so I'll let everyone else correct me...:D

[Yamahamaman]

I'm only 14 and I've recently started to race with the Wellington Bucket Racing club in a junior supermotard class and I really want to get into top road racing with proper 1000cc race bikes. Only I dont know how to get there. How do I make my way up to such a high level of racing?

For road racing, try and get a hold of a book called 'You Don't Know The Half Of It' autobiography from Aaron Slight. Oh and win Lotto.

[Ghost Lemur]

That fact that you are only 14 and already racing is exactly how you get to the top. Think by the time you're 25 you'll have over a decades experience.

Also joining this forum will do you wonders. There is a huge, I repeat HUGE network of helpful experienced riders (street, track, everywhere else) who are more than willing to lend a hand or advice.

As for getting to manfield (or where ever) regularly, I'm sure more often than not some others will have a bit of space, maybe for a chip-in for gas, still make things a bit cheaper.

One more tip for this advice. Whenever you meet a rider who's better than you, watch, learn, ask lots of questions.

[gav]

Simple really, keep winning and it will look after itself to some extent. You could approach some shops for sponsership, but dont expect a hand out for nothing, offer to work in a bike shop after school or weekends. Don't do drugs, don't smoke, study hard, train hard, get good grades and don't bad mouth your shop or competitors. Keep your bike and and riding gear immaculate. If you have some good results build on this, keep a CV/file of your results, knock up a website of your racing and go from there. Maybe look at racing in 150 class, keep winning, send your profile and results to local papers and with some luck you may get noticed. Dennis Charlett used to race buckets and now is racing for NZ Suzuki team. So get out there and win!!

[Coyote]

Thanks for all the advice. Big help. Still stuck on what I should get for my licence though. I need a road legal bike so I can get my riders licence, but I want a bike for my motard. My Dad and I are looking around all the bike stores and my Dads tested a RMX and a CRM and we've also been looking out for a nice KDX. We're still looking and we aren't sure if there’s anything else to look out for. Any suggestions?

[The One]

Thanks for all the advice. Big help. Still stuck on what I should get for my licence though. I need a road legal bike so I can get my riders licence, but I want a bike for my motard. My Dad and I are looking around all the bike stores and my Dads tested a RMX and a CRM and we've also been looking out for a nice KDX. We're still looking and we aren't sure if there’s anything else to look out for. Any suggestions?

Remember that to get to the top you must push yourself and machine right to the very edge of perfomance. If your serious about getting to the top, it's time to change that "give it a go/have fun" attitude to "I will win/have fun"attitude.

Get your car licence so that you can borrow dads car and take yourself to manfield.

Good luck with your goal and might hear of you in the future.
:Punk: :first:

[FROSTY]

If you are I can offer you advise as to what you need to do now and down the track to get to a certain level.
I'm not being negative here young fella but I've heard it all before and when push came to shove they weren't prepared to do what needed doing.
Ohh and for the record I'm one of the they-I made the mistake of noticing the opposite sex.
Say you are really serious

[Coyote]

I'm willing to put a lot of effort and sacrifice into achieving in Road Racing. Already most weekends are taken up on bike maintenance. We have to change the tyres on our KX from dirt to road each time, as it’s not just me using it in motard, but my brother also uses it at the Masterton MX track. This takes up a lot of time and I’m hopefully getting my own bike to get my riders licence and so we don’t have to constantly change the tyres. Just got to find the right bike.
By the way, if anyones got any info on a good Road legal MX performance enduro bike i.e RMX250, let me know.

[James Deuce]

If you want to get to the top then a huge amount of self-promotion is necessary. You have to convince people that you will be worth the money they spend on you. To this end you need a press kit, listing your achievements and goals and you must, repeat must present the kind of personality that is outgoing and friendly, but also has the "killer" edge to it. You can't sit back and let results speak for themselves, even in top level international racing.You have to be promoting yourself to the media, to team managers, and once you get into a team, within the team itself. Contacy Kiwi Rider and BRM, see if they are interested in printing a promotional press kit. It will cost you money. If your parents are supporting you then they are going to be re-mortgaging the house a couple of times in the next decade. There's no use moaning about how much money it takes, because it is just the way things are. Valentino Rossi's Dad split from his wife and lived in his car to help things along.

A"lot" of effort isn't enough. It has to be all consuming.

[Two Smoker]

Well, starting off in buckets is awesome.... But to get into road racing, you need to see about getting into SS150 (using a RG150 or KR-R150) or 125GP's/F3 class..... No one can just go out and start racing in F2/F1 because you have to be certifiably nuts to do those speeds straight away.....

Best bet is to go out and start racing.. to do this first you need to be in a Motorcycle club (not sure of the one in wellington, but PM svs as he will know) you then apply for a licence... But due to you racing in buckets im sure you have done this... next step is to get a bike.... try riding a SS150 bike as these a capable of actual speeds of about 160-165kmh (gets you into feeling speed) then see about a 125GP bike, insane cornering speeds, but a top speed pf about 200-210kmh next step is the F3 bike (ZXR and VFR are the popular types) which is a GREAT class, due to the racing being so close and great battles occuring.....

F2 and F1 requires alot of money....LOTS OF MONEY....... think $500 just for tyres per race meeting...

Get out there and start racing. get some results, then start promoting yourself to bikeshops or any company you can, to get the $$$....

Fuck this is what i should be doing :wacko: WHERE THE HELL IS ME F3 BIKE!!!!!?????

[Coyote]

Is ther any Bucket Racers that you can buy that are road legal?

[SPORK]

Blakamin, me and Alarumba were at tawa last time, where were you situated?
We were quite near the far end (away from the sausage sizzle and such) Alarumba is the one with long hair. Hopefully I will be going with them next time and I will keep an eye out for you!

[FROSTY]

Shit loads of road bikes would make good bucket racers.The benchmark has become the trusty cb125 twin. The little RG50 is probably going to be a good starter bike for you.
What you want to do right away is start a log book.
What track,what bike, weather conditions, finishing position,if possible lap times.
It gives you something concrete to work with when you are looking to improve your performance

[Coyote]

I'll start keeping a log book from now on. Thanks for the tip.

Everyone interested into going to the next wellington bucket races, its at the General Motors Carpark in Upper Hutt from what I know.

[svs]

In Wellington, join Victoria Motorcycle Club. You'll need that for you race license. Also they run special sessions to get guys like you up to speed. I can't remember the name of the guy who is running the training for juniors on the buckets, but I'll get it to you.

At 14 you can race SS150 at Manfield - there are a few out there at the club meets every time. (Can't race anything bigger till you're 15)

If you can possibly make it - come up to the Vic Club races on the 25th at Manfeild - there's heaps of people to talk to.

There's plenty of people who travel up from wellington, so I'm sure there'll be someone who can give you a lift up.

Hang in there, but make sure you ENJOY yourself more than anything.