Asia talent cup now accessible for NZ and Australian competitors

**CHOPPA** · 16th July 2014, 22:45

Originally Posted by steveyb

It's not about deserving the ride and entry fees etc.
Of course only riders who think they have the goods should enter, but it is open to all comers of the right age.
It is just like Rookies Cup. Alberto Puig is the chief protagonist and his company runs the bikes for MotoGP Rookies Cup.

You send an application, they assess that, invite you or not, to the selection event, you go over to Sepang (probably) and try and get selected.
Then you go to the race meetings.
Everything else is supplied: leathers (Alpinestars), bikes (Honda NSF250), tyres support etc etc. No entry fees.
One might use the same argument that is often promulgated in these parts about Rookies Cup that there is no political reason for them to select an NZ rider, hence there has not been one selected. That may or may not be the case. One might use the same argument here, that while they have now opened it up to applicants from NZ and Oz, they are not that keen to actually have an NZ or Oz rider in it, hence the reason they did not include NZ and Oz in the first place when they launched the thing last year.
But, like anything, you gotta be in to win, so why not give it a go?
I agree that MNZ should put hands in pockets to fund the riders who get invited to the selection, if not both rider and parent, at least the riders costs.
If anyone is then selected for the series then MNZ could look at funding part of their costs and they can be an MNZ entry, just like the Italian and French bodies do in Europe. Hell, the Italians fund a whole Moto3 team (probably not by themselves though).
Riders who are invited could easily run a crowdfunding project on ThrillPledge/PledgeMe to ask for donations for at least a portion of the costs to get there.
If the question is: What riders should apply? I have some in mind, but I am unsure of their ages or abilities to fund the trips on top of everything else. I would suggest that Bailee, Rogan and Tyler for starters would make fair candidates.

My comment was in the reply to MNZ picking up the tab (Which I agree would be great) but in that case it has everything to do with the rider deserving it...

Do you think any of our riders that have been through the Redbull Rookies selection have been hard done by?

**Billy** · 16th July 2014, 23:09

Originally Posted by steveyb

It's not about deserving the ride and entry fees etc.
Of course only riders who think they have the goods should enter, but it is open to all comers of the right age.
It is just like Rookies Cup. Alberto Puig is the chief protagonist and his company runs the bikes for MotoGP Rookies Cup.

You send an application, they assess that, invite you or not, to the selection event, you go over to Sepang (probably) and try and get selected.
Then you go to the race meetings.
Everything else is supplied: leathers (Alpinestars), bikes (Honda NSF250), tyres support etc etc. No entry fees.
One might use the same argument that is often promulgated in these parts about Rookies Cup that there is no political reason for them to select an NZ rider, hence there has not been one selected. That may or may not be the case. One might use the same argument here, that while they have now opened it up to applicants from NZ and Oz, they are not that keen to actually have an NZ or Oz rider in it, hence the reason they did not include NZ and Oz in the first place when they launched the thing last year.
But, like anything, you gotta be in to win, so why not give it a go?
I agree that MNZ should put hands in pockets to fund the riders who get invited to the selection, if not both rider and parent, at least the riders costs.
If anyone is then selected for the series then MNZ could look at funding part of their costs and they can be an MNZ entry, just like the Italian and French bodies do in Europe. Hell, the Italians fund a whole Moto3 team (probably not by themselves though).
Riders who are invited could easily run a crowdfunding project on ThrillPledge/PledgeMe to ask for donations for at least a portion of the costs to get there.
If the question is: What riders should apply? I have some in mind, but I am unsure of their ages or abilities to fund the trips on top of everything else. I would suggest that Bailee, Rogan and Tyler for starters would make fair candidates.

Absolutely,

There are any number of riders who could apply and I believe some already have made enquiries after getting the info off my facebook page or the Team Aspire page, The reality is, Theres $20k in funding available from Oceania every year as I was informed that has NEVER been taken up, When the late Oceania President was here in 2013 he all but begged for us to use it,I applied to the office for help to bring Luke Burgess here for that season and was told about the funding then,But that what I was doing didn't fit the criteria of junior training, That said, They managed to secure funding from Oceania for the Barry Sheene last year on the premise it was an Oceania championship and yet that event was run on a club day permit, Where there is a will, Theres a way, Junior development is the lifeblood of the sport and currently MNZ are basically ignoring it, You can't say that Luke didn't raise both the profile of the 250 class AND the bar, Since he came, A large number of competitors in that class have improved immensly and the times he achieved then, That were seen as unbeatable are no longer records and in some cases, There were several competitors that were faster than he went in 2013, This is just one of many opportunity's that our youngsters should be attending but simply can't do it without financial support, Meanwhile, Back at the ranch I'm led to believe MNZ have $700k in the bank and available funding thats not being used, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

As an aside, When I contacted the current commissioner, He had not even been informed of the funding ?????

**steveyb** · 17th July 2014, 09:17

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

My comment was in the reply to MNZ picking up the tab (Which I agree would be great) but in that case it has everything to do with the rider deserving it...

Do you think any of our riders that have been through the Redbull Rookies selection have been hard done by?

My personal view is that if these monies are actually available as is alluded elsewhere, then really because the cost of a flight to Malaysia is not that much, that MNZ could fund all of the riders invited to go to the selection. As I suggested, perhaps just the rider, parents fund themselves. That would be fair.

As for being hard done by at Rookies Cup, my personal opinion is not really, but others have views that suggest that any Kiwi going was never going to be selected, regardless. Only if they were absolute stand outs would they be selected. This has not been the case for any of the candidates we have sent. Travelling from here makes it tough. There is the belief that our market for RedBull and Dorna makes them ignore us, while they are desperate to have wide broadcast rights in Australia hence their desperation to have an Aussie at the front of MotoGP. I wonder if they really know how small the sport is in Australia. I find it hard to hold that view, because I can't believe that someone who makes his life in NZ would allow young NZ riders and families to put themselves through all that and the $$ to get there if there was no chance. I am not so cynical. But it could be real.

Young Tyler went to Europe on his own. Hung out for a week with people he knew only loosely (much better now though) and then was pretty overwhelmed by the hot temperatures and full on nature of the thing in Spain. That he made it there and actually did it is testament to his maturity, but it was a pretty tough ask all round really.
So far we have sent: Luke Jameson, Nick Cain (twice), Avalon Biddle, Jake Lewis and Tyler Lincoln (hope I have not forgotten anyone). Does anyone think that anyone was/is better than those candidates? Bearing in mind that they are not looking for national champions, but riders who demonstrate coachable abilities.

This new initiative could really help NZ riders make steps. BUT, we do also need to be aware that the level is MUCH MUCH lower than that of the Rookies Cup and that GP/WSBK teams may not be watching. Only riders that are absolute standouts (again) will get any attention from this series.

**scott411** · 17th July 2014, 09:27

we (the pukekohe motorcycle club) used the oceania federation funding to run the oceania junior motocross champs at harrisville in 2010, we brought 15 aussie junior riders out, incl some of thier bikes, and flew the riders out, the parents had to pay for their own flights, we billeted all the riders and supporters though the club members,

i thought the oceania funding was for an event, not to send individual riders to certain events, pretty sure the trails guys have used it in the past as well,

this does seem like a cool series tho, and Asia used to be the stepping stone for a lot of our riders,

**Billy** · 17th July 2014, 09:47

Originally Posted by scott411

we (the pukekohe motorcycle club) used the oceania federation funding to run the oceania junior motocross champs at harrisville in 2010, we brought 15 aussie junior riders out, incl some of thier bikes, and flew the riders out, the parents had to pay for their own flights, we billeted all the riders and supporters though the club members,

i thought the oceania funding was for an event, not to send individual riders to certain events, pretty sure the trails guys have used it in the past as well,

this does seem like a cool series tho, and Asia used to be the stepping stone for a lot of our riders,

The oceania president himself described it to me as being available for junior training,No mention of what criteria that should entail and definitely not an event.

**Shaun Harris** · 17th July 2014, 10:00

I would love to see Baillie Perrington in this, as he has the maturity to conduct himself well there also and be a great sales person for NZ Riders and he is FAST!!!! But will be at a big weight disadvantage dam pie eater

**budda** · 17th July 2014, 10:08

Originally Posted by Billy

The oceania president himself described it to me as being available for junior training,No mention of what criteria that should entail and definitely not an event.

Was ONLY for training when I tried to access it - cant tell you what happened to my proposal involving bringing Training Accredited Aussies here, never heard back ........

**Billy** · 17th July 2014, 10:29

Originally Posted by budda

Was ONLY for training when I tried to access it - cant tell you what happened to my proposal involving bringing Training Accredited Aussies here, never heard back ........

Yip,

I said that earlier, BUT if they can obtain funding for the BSOC on the pretence it was an Oceania challenge,Which it was NOT, Then I'm sure something could be done,I'm sure like me, Any reply you got did not come from Oceania,I doubt they were even contacted with any proposal,When I spoke to their president he was very adamant NO request had been made from NZ and had some choice words to say about certain MNZ members

**oyster** · 17th July 2014, 11:07

Shaun, do you remember years ago when people were encouraging you to get involved in MNZ? You responded by saying you'd be quickly arrested for assaulting the CEO (Paul Pavletich) Dumb old me offered to pay your bail. That cost me a "breach of the code of conduct" and a $200 fine, (mind you, offering to pay the bail money in advance probably was a bit provocative..) I could have ignored it, but I needed to keep my licence so I could stay out on the track coaching. The serious letter from the president (Sandra Perry) stated the fine money would be used for junior training. I followed up over several years with Paul Stewart and Kev Goddard with no luck confirming where the money went. They finally said it couldn't be paid because the accounts were were closed.

**budda** · 17th July 2014, 11:22

Originally Posted by Billy

Yip,

I said that earlier, BUT if they can obtain funding for the BSOC on the pretence it was an Oceania challenge,Which it was NOT, Then I'm sure something could be done,I'm sure like me, Any reply you got did not come from Oceania,I doubt they were even contacted with any proposal,When I spoke to their president he was very adamant NO request had been made from NZ and had some choice words to say about certain MNZ members

Clearly I didn't have the right people schmooooooZe the right people then .........

**Shaun Harris** · 17th July 2014, 11:23

Originally Posted by oyster

Shaun, do you remember years ago when people were encouraging you to get involved in MNZ? You responded by saying you'd be quickly arrested for assaulting the CEO (Paul Pavletich) Dumb old me offered to pay your bail. That cost me a "breach of the code of conduct" and a $200 fine, (mind you, offering to pay the bail money in advance probably was a bit provocative..) I could have ignored it, but I needed to keep my licence so I could stay out on the track coaching. The serious letter from the president (Sandra Perry) stated the fine money would be used for junior training. I followed up over several years with Paul Stewart and Kev Goddard with no luck confirming where the money went. They finally said it couldn't be paid because the accounts were were closed.

I remember it very Well Pete

**steveyb** · 2nd August 2014, 19:56

Applications have now opened.
Is anyone from NZ going to apply?
Is anyone willing to state if MNZ funding will be available or not? (i.e. will it actually be given, not just "you can apply for it" and get turned down).

**Billy** · 2nd August 2014, 22:04

Originally Posted by steveyb

Applications have now opened.
Is anyone from NZ going to apply?
Is anyone willing to state if MNZ funding will be available or not? (i.e. will it actually be given, not just "you can apply for it" and get turned down).

You'd have to contact the office re funding, I did see some mention of funding from MNZ on the track and roadriders facebook page, But I didn't bother reading it, I only posted it on here as I knew nobody else would as the info was sent too me from a mate in Aussie and MNZ had no knowledge of it at the time.