Moto Academy NZ

[steveyb]

Moto Academy NZ launched

Hi all

Please have a look at the attached flyer for information on a new initiative aimed at developing the second step (after the likes of bucket/Streetstock/Junior MX) of motorcycle roadracing sport.

As of 27 April Moto Academy NZ has 6 RS125 bikes, 1 RS 250 and three riders signed. All bikes are identically prepared (where possible as they are not all the same year).

Alpinestars has agreed to become the supplier of riding equipment to Moto Academy NZ.

A place in the final selection event of Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2009 (Nov 2008, Estoril, Portugal) has been agreed for a selected rider (age limits apply).

Thanks for your interest and I hope to hear from you soon.

(Please note that website is not yet live).

Steve Bagshaw

Director
Moto Academy NZ

[Meekey_Mouse]

Wow... Very cool :)

All the best with the academy Steve!

[quallman1234]

awesome steve, see you at the race track!

[HDTboy]

That's very cool

[henry]

Why 2 strokes?

[Maido]

Hey steve, any chance of upping the age to say 28 so I can apply?

[skidMark]

im too old at nearly 21....gutted.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Why 2 strokes?

Because they'll teach you how to race a real bike. None of this oodles of torque down low to make up for rider short comings!

Can't wait, this is going to be AWESOME! :jerry:

[Sparky Bills]

Guys, keep up to date with this.
There are going to be some young riders turing into little Rossi's!
Watch this space:Punk:

[steveyb]

Hi all.
I will add comments as we go to answer questions that come up here.

Age: I have suggested an age limit up to 18 yrs due to the committment to Red Bull Rookies Cup where the age limit is 16yrs. So I am aiming to have the academy have younger and novice riders in it.
However, one needs also to be pragmatic and if a 21 yr old is interested then they should contact me to discuss.

HOWEVER, there will never be a place for washed up tractor riders from the deep south (You got a miiiiighty purdy mouth boy!!).

But seriously, this is an initiative aimed at allowing young and novice riders to take that next step in their career development while concentrating on riding and learning rather than messing with bikes they have no knowledge or experience of and worrying about parts and such like. It is not aimed at providing riders with championship winning equipment.

REMEMBER, Moto Academy NZ is an education/development focussed activity, NOT a performance focussed activity. Of course riders will strive to perform, but bikes are not being provided that are at the pointy end of performance.

2-strokes: My firm belief is that roadracing career development starts with 2-stroke style motorcycles and that the future of roadracing in NZ (as it is everywhere else) is in 125GP class racing (drawing from the huge Streetstock and MX talent pools). Clearly there will come a day when this class changes to 4-stroke bikes, maybe 7, maybe 15 years from now. When this happens Moto Academy will also change, assuming we are still around. So, given that this is my initiative, I am running with 125/250GP bikes. If that suits you then give me a call.

What I am also hoping for in the longer term is that more of the older guys like me (well, sort of old anyway) will decide to put their bikes away, buy a couple of 125's or Pro Twin bikes and set up teams where younger riders buy a seat in that team and race rather than struggle with their own bikes. We all read about team this and team that in the UK and US and Australia, well, that is how it is done.

Cheers

Steve

[henry]

Hi all.
2-strokes: My firm belief is that roadracing career development starts with 2-stroke style motorcycles and that the future of roadracing in NZ (as it is everywhere else) is in 125GP class racing (drawing from the huge Streetstock and MX talent pools). Clearly there will come a day when this class changes to 4-stroke bikes, maybe 7, maybe 15 years from now. When this happens Moto Academy will also change, assuming we are still around.

I thought two strokes were history and will be gone as soon as the FIM can figure out what to replace them with. Aren't the yanks (and poms?) trying to start up a 4 stroke 450 single class based on MX bikes?



So, given that this is my initiative, I am running with 125/250GP bikes.


Well in that case :)

[k14]

I thought two strokes were history and will be gone as soon as the FIM can figure out what to replace them with. Aren't the yanks (and poms?) trying to start up a 4 stroke 450 single class based on MX bikes?
No far from it. Honda is trying to flood the market with their 250 4 stroke GP machines along with putting up the prices on parts for the RS125 and 250. However the european manufactures are doing the total opposite of this. Aprillia, Derbi and KTM are all for continuing the 125 class. This year is the first time that KTM 125 bikes are available to you or me to buy (if you have a spare $30k). The 125 class will certainly be around in New Zealand for a long time to come. Maybe in 5 years it will start to decline in the world championships, hard to say.

Good stuff Steve. Wish you the best in your endeavors.

[HenryDorsetCase]

What I am also hoping for in the longer term is that more of the older guys like me (well, sort of old anyway) will decide to put their bikes away, buy a couple of 125's or Pro Twin bikes and set up teams where younger riders buy a seat in that team and race rather than struggle with their own bikes. We all read about team this and team that in the UK and US and Australia, well, that is how it is done.


I think the next time I fall off on the track will be the time I seriously consider this...... plus it would be tax deductible!

[ken13]

Another awsome idea Steven!! I know where there is another mint 125 for ya to!!
Whats with the 2-stroke haters??

[Capinure]

omg i'm 16 i want to do this so bad! aaaaa! i'm going apeshit ive seen the trailers for the red bull riders.

[et al]

That's awesome Steve that you are taking the initiative and doing something positive for the Sport - this is exactly what we need, well done.

[skidMark]

PM sent :drool:..........

[Cleve]

Brilliant. Good for you Steve and all the best.

[sAsLEX]

PM sent :drool:..........

Got a job yet ?

I mean you have to be dedicated to the sport and it can cost alot of money.

[Nasty]

Got a job yet ?

I mean you have to be dedicated to the sport and it can cost alot of money.

Since he probably read the first post that indicates the requirement of $10 k hopefully he has.

[Shaun]

Well done Steve, hope you make a difference with this. If there is any way I can help you? Please just contact me

[Dom]

Best of luck Steve. I hope it works out and wish you the best of luck. NZ needs something like this.

Dom

[quallman1234]

Got a job yet ?

I mean you have to be dedicated to the sport and it can cost alot of money.

194$ a week. The sad thing is he could afford this if he got a job.

Id fucken love to this, however can't afford it by any means! Currently at uni, restricts my time for working!.

[Clivoris]

We need this to work Steve. You got eggs man.

[steveyb]

Thanks for all the best wishes.
I am working very hard to make sure that I am spec'd up correctly and thinking hard about how I will actually run the thing.
Most things sorted out, but clearly I cannot forsee everything that will pop up.

Need to get a cornerstone sponsor on board e.g. Red Bull (hehehe, I wish but you never know your luck in the little city) as Moto Academy NZ cannot run on the proceeds of rider fees alone.

I can't recall if I said, but one of our good friends in the racing community has invested in Moto Academy NZ to create a scholarship position we are calling the Moto Academy Derek Hill memorial scholarship.

I am humbled by his generosity and confidence that I will not just waste the money, and in his and Dereks names I am working my ass off to make this work.

For 2008 this position has been awarded to a rider we hope will show some good promise and is a really nice kid (bloke) who is as keen as mustard. We will announce who the rider and donor are at the launch in May. So hush hush until then ay??? ;-)

Shayne King (Alpinestars distributor/Ohlins) has also taken a leap of faith in my abilities and the quality of the concept, for which I am also extremely grateful and I hope that we will grow our relationship in a positive manner.

VMCC have also come on board with non-cash assistance and hopefully something more, fingers crossed.

So I am for ever hopeful that other distributors and event organisers will come on board with product and non-cash assistance.

Shaun, if there is one thing you can help to start with it would be to put in a good word with the Arai people, as I really only want to use the best gear I can. Arai and Alpinestars would be a magical partnership.

Cheers again.

Steve

[Big Chim]

Good onya steve. All the best!!!

[gammaguy]

Why 2 strokes?

because they are:

lighter

faster

more powerful

simpler

better handling

more fun

harder to master,but more rewarding

in fact......

WHY FOUR STROKES??:sleep:

[sAsLEX]

WHY FOUR STROKES??:sleep:

MotoGP, WSBK, AMA .........

2 stroke racing is not as popular as yesteryear

[quallman1234]

The Majority of the MotoGp classes are 2 stroke's dont we forget.

:devil2:

Let's not make this a 2 stroke vs 4 stroke thread. The simple matter of the fact is that Steve has choosen GP 2 strokes what are a good bases to lean on (One would argue!, the fact of the matter is that the RS125's and 250's Are pure racing bikes, you can't buy pure racing 4 stroke bikes except maybe the tigcraft and that would be unecomical!). The people who are attending moto acamedy are going to be taught how to ride a race bike. Not a road bike with a couple mods on it.

Yeah yeah One would argue. however this is not the right place to do so.

[gammaguy]

well said!no one is as passionate about two strokes as me(ask any of my long suffering friends:angry2:)but this is NOT the thread for that debate.Good on ya steve for getting proactive on this issue,and bringing young people thru the ranks of road racing.I would be fully behind it even if they were going to be riding diesels.

[Meekey_Mouse]

Hey Steve,

Give the guys at Demon Energy Drinks an email... Awesome people and they would possibly be keen to get behind something like this :D

Here's the link to their website: http://www.demonenergy.co.nz/default.aspx

[steveyb]

Hey Steve,

Give the guys at Demon Energy Drinks an email... Awesome people and they would possibly be keen to get behind something like this :D

Here's the link to their website: http://www.demonenergy.co.nz/default.aspx

Hi there.
Thanks for the idea, but Demon Energy does not have the brand philosophy that fits with an academy for younger riders. "No Limits, No Laws" is not how I want to pitch the academy.

Thanks anyway.

Steve

[Meekey_Mouse]

Hi there.
Thanks for the idea, but Demon Energy does not have the brand philosophy that fits with an academy for younger riders. "No Limits, No Laws" is not how I want to pitch the academy.

Thanks anyway.

Steve

Fair enough :)

[quallman1234]

There is also

Redbull obviously
Monster Energy (Although the slogan aint too much better).

The great thing about the energy drink companies is they regularly sposner such sports.

[ajturbo]

Because they'll teach you how to race a real bike. None of this oodles of torque down low to make up for rider short comings!


bugger.. counts me out





HOWEVER, there will never be a place for washed up tractor riders from the deep south (You got a miiiiighty purdy mouth boy!!).

Cheers

Steve

bugger.. counts me out ... AGAIN..


Well done Steve, hope you make a difference with this. If there is any way I can help you? Please just contact me


good one matey....:first:

[madkeenandy]

man this sounds awesome.....

so now i just ned to find $10k


.......dad can i borrow some money?!

[steveyb]

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Red+Bull+MotoGP+Academy+vary+training+in+Spain

[Clivoris]

man this sounds awesome.....

so now i just ned to find $10k


.......dad can i borrow some money?!

Might I suggest that Dad needs to be presented with the idea that the $10k is an investment opportunity with the possibility of huge financial return. A much better investment for his retirement than KiwiSaver.
Paying off loans is so tedious.

[MattRSK]

Anymore updates to this?

[ajturbo]

Anymore updates to this?

you will just have to wait till........:jerry:

[henry]

Bye bye 2 strokes

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1565707

[quallman1234]

Bye bye 2 strokes

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1565707

There's still 125's mate.

[Ivan]

There's still 125's mate.

Which are also looking at being replaced if theres something for the future of 250's they will be also planning something forthe future of 125's.

[steveyb]

Hi all.
Hope you are enjoying the colder weather.

Moto Academy NZ will launch at Taupo circuit on 25 May at Actrix VMCC Championship Rd 1 early before the start of play.

Everyone is invited to attend the unveiling of Moto Academy NZ and to meet the riders and management. We will be in Garage #10.

Let us all hope for no rain as the circuit could be a bit greasy if it is wet.

We have 4 riders signed up for the academy with one special announcement to be made on Sunday.

One bike still remains vacant, so anyone wanting to get involved please contact me.

On the note of 2-strokes death: Yes, I saw the announcement of proposals. Certainly I have always said the day will come, but the machines must be the right ones. The Moto Academy NZ business plan calls for the use of GP motorcycles, not production motorcycles, whatever they may be at the given time, 2 or 4 stroke. IMHO the 250 single will not work out in the longer term, ultimately not fast enough for a reasonable cost (if a KTM 125 costs E32,000, what is a 250 single 4 stroke GP bike going to cost to buy and run?????) and the 250 replacement will be a 400 or 500 cc multi so that the small bike can be a 200 or 250cc twin. At least that is what KTM prefer. And in any case, how long before any of us in good old price sensitive NZ see any of these bikes? Moriwaki MD250H is available now, anyone here keen enough to have bought one???

So, see you all at Taupo.

Enjoy

Steve
Moto Academy NZ

[MattRSK]

Sounds good. Exciting stuff!

[k14]

Yeah, great stuff you're doing there Steve.

Hope it all goes well. Good luck for this weekend.

[Meekey_Mouse]

Will try call in before I go out to marshal... All the best for the first day! :banana:

[Sparky Bills]

OH!!! Can I ride the spare bike?? :baby:

[steveyb]

Show me da money!!! :clap:

[enigma51]

My wife says im just like a child does that count she reckons im about 16 or so?

[moT]

im still 16 years old at heart

[steveyb]

Hello everyone.

We would like to invite you all to the launch of Moto Academy NZ on Sunday 25 May at Taupo circuit.

We will have a brief unveiling and introduction of Moto Academy NZ to the captive audience (you lot) immediately after riders briefing on Sunday morning at about 9:00 am. following which the riders will take to the circuit, in the sunshine, for their first days instruction and racing.

We will introduce the carefully chosen product suppliers that are supporting Moto Academy NZ:
Alpinestars
Arai Helmet
SBS Braking systems
Fuchs Silkolene Lubricants
NGK Spark Plugs
RK Chain
AFAM Sprockets
GJH Fibreglass
Evolution Panel and Paint
Motomart

You will be invited to have a look at the bikes and to meet the riders and have a chat about Moto Academy NZ, our vision, mission and plans.

We still have one RS125 vacant at this time, so anyone that is thinking that they might want to become involved please come and see me.

We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

Steve Bagshaw
Director
Moto Academy NZ Ltd.

[Shaun]

Hey Steve, ARAI, ( Dold acc) does there name in the product sponsors list, mean they have come to the party to help out here?

If so, big ups from me to you and them for getting this done dude.

[White trash]

Hey Steve, ARAI, ( Darbi acc) does there name in the product sponsors list, mean they have come to the party to help out here?

If so, big ups from me to you and them for getting this done dude.
I thought Arai was handled by Dold?

But maximum respect for the whole deal Steve, very exciting news for NZ bike racing.

[Shaun]

I thought Arai was handled by Dold?

But maximum respect for the whole deal Steve, very exciting news for NZ bike racing.




Well spotted spotter, corrected now, Sorry Dold

[steveyb]

Hi guys.
Yes that's right, but as the distributors one promotes the brand and product lines, not the distributors 'cos they don't sell retail.

Youse fullas know this, but others out there may not.

I received the helmets today. The boys are going to wet themselves inside their new Alpinestars leathers when they get them on!

Sweeeeeeeeet!!

Steve

[Meekey_Mouse]

Hey Steve and all the Moto Academy guys,
You were all looking really good out there :yes: the gear and bikes looked really smart and a big huge thumbs up to the riders... You all rode really well :2thumbsup

Good on ya Steve for putting all this together... You've done a brilliant job and it all seems very professionally done :)

All the best for the future rounds!

[Speedsport]

Yes they looked very good in the team colours.

Well done team.

Glenn

[MattRSK]

So the team members are?

[Speedsport]

#10 Glen Skachill - RS250 Honda

#12 Sam Flynn - RS125 Honda
#13 Kyle Hammond - RS125 Honda
#14 Luke Jameson - GP125

[quallman1234]

Sweet launch!

Thanks for the weekend steve.

-Kyle

[ajturbo]

the "Boy's"....:2thumbsup:banana:

[ajturbo]

more......

[Sketchy_Racer]

that didn't work pal!

[Flyno]

it was a bloody gud day! thanks everyone for supporting moto academy.
Sam

[xr-rider]

well done to all of you moto academy boys. good racing out there. especialy glenn

[koba]

Brilliant lads, Well done!

[quallman1234]

Brilliant lads, Well done!

Nice to see your in the moto academy shot at the top of this page :headbang:

[slowpoke]

Having heard about Moto Academy I've gotta say I was very pleasantly suprised. The set up was extremely professional, no ratty assortment of munted old cast offs, just beautifully presented bikes and lots of info flying around the pit.
To those who have supported this venture you should be very proud of what you have put together.
Bloody well done and best of luck to all involved.

[ajturbo]

luke has written his race report.. but up loading to here seams to be a mission...

[steveyb]

Assembly of reports from Moto Academy Rd 1.

[Flyno]

R3 awesome, thanks to steve mike and the boys, it was GREAT! had ups and downs, but the best.

[xr-rider]

there is a write up in bike rider magazine and it is about a page long about the moto academy and its riders

[mud boy]

OH!!! Can I ride the spare bike?? :baby:

noooooooo!!:eek5: