Cutoff age for starting racing?

[wbks]

I'll make the drive no prob if its worth it but like i said im not even sure what to ask.

[puddytat]

Im 44 & just started racing,.....my reasoning being that its never to late to have a happy childhood

[steveyb]

Gidday WBKS.
Have a look at our website www.motoacademy.co.nz
Riders like yourself are just who we are looking for.
You never know, you might just find yourself in Portugal in November if you are any good!
My contact details are on the website.
PM Sketchy Racer, Mudboy and Quallman also to get the inside info.

In comparison to riders overseas you have done all the right things so far.
I don't know how long you have been riding MX or what level you are at, but transitioning to Roadracing at 14-15 is the right way to go about it after a few years of MX racing. In Europe they can start serious roadracing younger than we can in NZ (due to our rules/laws) at 12-13, but if you have good MX experience then that is not much of a handicap.
What you do need if you do want to aim high, is drive, realistic ambitions and goals that you can modify as you attain them (ie aim to be VMCC champ then aim to be NZ champ then aim to get into Rookies Cup etc etc, don't just say, I want to be world champion, it is too lofty and not realistic when you are starting out). You also need to be small and light. 5' 6" and under and 60 kg and under seem to be required at the higher levels. Nick Cain of Chch was knocked back by Rookies Cup almost soley because he is too tall.

The cost of being part of Moto Academy NZ might just let you continue to ride the MX bike (preferred actually).

Anyway, give us a call

Cheers

Steve
Moto Academy NZ

[wbks]

Yea I was very interested in motoacademy a couple weeks ago and I was actually PMing you about it but decided that the travel might be too much. But looking at it now I might be able to manage it. Just working everything out, really. As for me physically: I'm 5'6" right now and definately not at a competitive weight but I was 55kg same height this time last year so I could get there easily haha. If I email you, would you be able to give me some rough idea of how freiquent racing and training is in motoacademy and when it runs from? Cheers,

Kristian

[CHOPPA]

There basically the same, keep racing whatever you can afford road racing is like mx on a smooth track, its great!

[wbks]

Well mx is fun with sliding everywhere and jumping all over the show, but roadracing is more gracefull, more scary (which equals a rush) and what I have always wanted to do since I got a 50 racing at ardmore...

[Mishy]

some guys got talent. other put in the hard yards. they usually end up pretty close. the guys who put in the yards and got the talent are the gods of most sports.

Nothing more true than that ! talent alone isn't enough, you gotta work hard and be driven too.
There is just no substitute for getting started learning eary - look at all our young talent, and many seem to have come from 125's, and started as soon as they legally could. Sam Smith, Jay Lawrence, Dom Jones, and even Nick Cole did 125's young, and the new group of hot shots are doing the same - starting at 14 or 15 and just working as hard at it as they can.
There are exceptions of course - like Craig Shirriffs and Dennis Charlett, but even those guys had bucket racing experience before going to the big tracks.

And besides, road racing has got to be easier on your knees than MX . . . .

[racerhead]

If you look at alot of the top racers in motogp and wsbk most of them have come from an offroad background in either mx or flat track in the US and this helps because your comfortable with a bike moving around underneath you and your also used to racing other people so your racecraft is already there aswell.

Im 21 now and only starting to look into racing so you have plenty of time to start and like what other people have said already if you have the talent and are prepared to put in the effort you will do well against whoever you choose to race against.

[wbks]

So you guys think it wouldn't matter much if I carried on with mx for one more year and I could still have a good chance at racing?

[lostinflyz]

not at all. i mean your not gonna make a career of it so its not gonna matter fiddly squat. it just means in 5 years youll have 4 years experience rather than 5. which is more than most people.

[roogazza]

Ok , thats all good for starting out , but whats the cutoff for finishing ? When you can't take the hurt anymore or your eyes go ? Gaz.

[racerhead]

Ok , thats all good for starting out , but whats the cutoff for finishing ? When you can't take the hurt anymore or your eyes go ? Gaz.

Id say that depends alot on the person.
Like how much interest they have to stay racing, are they still quick enough etc. etc.
At some of the road races over here there are stil some real old guys riding in classics, there stil riding the same bikes they were 40 years ago. I love the idea of it because its like they have never grown up and just show up to chat with friends and then go as hard as they dare once the flag drops

[Tony.OK]

Ok , thats all good for starting out , but whats the cutoff for finishing ? When you can't take the hurt anymore or your eyes go ? Gaz.

When the money runs out.............

[CHOPPA]

So you guys think it wouldn't matter much if I carried on with mx for one more year and I could still have a good chance at racing?

It sorta sounds like you wanna be world champ? which is cool dont get me wrong and if that is the case then it would be better to switch sooner then later and get on a 125 but if your only looking at being a club racer then its never too late...

How fast are you at mx?

[oyster]

Some riders have gone direct from motox to 125GP successfully, but by far the majority of the young riders riding 125GP in NZ just now have served a thorough "apprenticeship" in Streetstock. Is not a necessity, but good economics. A Streetstock rider enjoys very low costs and good feilds thoughout the country (although a bit skinny further north) all year round.
Not so with 125GP. For the same money you're better to ride 3 times more often, all around the country and learn your base skill thoroughly in the first year. Then consider 125GP. Even then, if you're really serious, you'll probably have to commute to the South to get regular feilds at a high level (As Jayden, Kenneth and Avalon are doing just now.)
Get going right now and enter the 3 South Island Nat rounds in Streetstock.
It'll be a ripper with 30 plus youngsters just like yourself slugging it out over
6 (or even 9 ) days of riding. Plenty of coaching and support provided, even bikes if you need one.
PM if you're interested