Junior Road Racing needs to be more attractive

[CHOPPA]

There is always lots of discussion about how to encourage Jnr road racing.

Apart from the fact the kids are not allowed to race too early, there is ways to get on track like buckets etc.

The people that are spending the money on motorcycling are spending it racing Motocross because its cool, bright, there bikes are fast and new.

The whole road race image is really dull, black leather and dirty old slow bikes, there is no way the kids from MX are gonna choose an old falling apart 150 street stock over there new CRF150 MX bike.

In Australia the young fast guys come from a dirt track backround, it bridges the gap between MX and Road Racing.

If there is to be more young talent there needs to be an avenue for them to take that includes cool fast bikes. MX riders like 600s, 1000s, Supermoto and Dirt Track. 600s and 1000s are out of the question but jnr supermoto would be such an easy step. Id also love to see flat track racing.

No disrespect to those who do ride those bikes mentioned and those of you that are doing everything you can for the young guys, good on you! Its easy for me to sit on the fence, but I still stand by my opinion

If I had more time id try to help, its certainly one of my long term goals.

If you have a street stock bike im by no means knocking you or your bike, there is nothing at all wrong with them my point is that mx riders have to have flat peak caps, custom graphix, 22" wheels on there van and the latest fox gear so the 150 doesnt fit the image

[Robert Taylor]

There is always lots of discussion about how to encourage Jnr road racing.

Apart from the fact the kids are not allowed to race too early, there is ways to get on track like buckets etc.

The people that are spending the money on motorcycling are spending it racing Motocross because its cool, bright, there bikes are fast and new.

The whole road race image is really dull, black leather and dirty old slow bikes, there is no way the kids from MX are gonna choose an old falling apart 150 street stock over there new CRF150 MX bike.

In Australia the young fast guys come from a dirt track backround, it bridges the gap between MX and Road Racing.

If there is to be more young talent there needs to be an avenue for them to take that includes cool fast bikes. MX riders like 600s, 1000s, Supermoto and Dirt Track. 600s and 1000s are out of the question but jnr supermoto would be such an easy step. Id also love to see flat track racing.

No disrespect to those who do ride those bikes mentioned, good on you! But I doubt you have the same mentality as most of the quick mx riders.

If I had more time id try to help, its certainly one of my long term goals.

Certainly Ive evidenced that those riders that have come from a solid MX background have often done very well in road racing and we should encourage more puddle jumpers to convert to tarmac.
Sloan Frost, Scotty Moir being two great examples. And Johny Burkhart had he been able to continue

[CHOPPA]

I reckon we need BT or Coops to jump on a road race bike, that would be a great way to steal MX riders haha

[steveyb]

Yes this is true.
This very point has been made several times on this site by this member.
But in our Kiwi, "fastest route to the bottom please", way we continue to insist that building our own pieces of shit and supplying the cheapest piles of stinking crap we can is how we will do it and anyone that says anything else can fcuk off.

Having fast well handing, good looking bikes that the off road kids actually want to ride (as opposed to "is that all there is, oh ok then") and gear they can buy (for example; Crown Kiwi does not import any of the Alpinestars youth range except on special order) would make a huge difference.

But the biggest competitors are the parents of the MX kids. It is really difficult to convince them, in any numbers, that road racing can be cheaper and safer than MX. Tony Rees knows this personally as he has tried many times to talk MX parents into roadracing. So the upshot of it is that we never end up with enough young riders in the one place (except in Chch) and then nationally to make it possible from any stand point (financially, logistically, organisationally) to import the bikes or the gear or have races for youth riders only. This is a very important point. It is important if not vital that the kids are able to race against kids, and not against adults.

As Oyster points out, this sort of system works, but he also points out that road racing starts too late and really should be starting at similar ages to MX. Really, there is no reason why other than organisationally. Getting the Mini MX kids onto the kart track on their MX bikes with road tyres would be something ay?

My feeling is that the Australian situation where dirt track racing is a reasonably big scene makes the transition into roadracing just that bit easier. Setting up some dirt tracks here would be a hoot, but probably far too difficult and expensive.
Remember, dirt track is not speedway or MX.

Sloan who?

As you were, again.

[steveyb]

I reckon we need BT or Coops to jump on a road race bike, that would be a great way to steal MX riders haha

Agree with that, but maybe it would be better if we were able to attract the younger ones. Katherine, Levi, etc

[CHOPPA]

Agree with that, but maybe it would be better if we were able to attract the younger ones. Katherine, Levis, etc

Yup I reckon with one of there heros like those boys doing some road racing it would make them want to follow...

Id agree also that the safety thing is a big aspect, trying to convince then MX is far more dangerous is pretty hard.

[CHOPPA]

Yes this is true.
This very point has been made several times on this site by this member.

It always seems to get overlooked but it is the major reason

we will do it and anyone that says anything else can fcuk off.

Its great that a few guys like yourself are making such a big effort and your bikes even though they are sorta old dont fall into the same category because they are "cool"

Having fast well handing, good looking bikes that the off road kids actually want to ride would make a huge difference.

Yeah there is nothing on the market thats why the best bet would be to encourage junior motard so they can just put wheels on there current bikes and get the best of both worlds


Getting the Mini MX kids onto the kart track on their MX bikes with road tyres would be something ay?

Sure would!

Sloan who?

I think he started racing about the same time as Moto Academy started

As you were, again.

As above................

[merv]

I reckon we need BT or Coops to jump on a road race bike, that would be a great way to steal MX riders haha

BT did some laps a while back, wasn't that on Casey Stoner's KTM back in the day?

If BT had gone road racing, who knows he may not have suffered the injuries he has had.

[CHOPPA]

BT did some laps a while back, wasn't that on Casey Stoner's KTM back in the day?

If BT had gone road racing, who knows he may not have suffered the injuries he has had.

Yeah it was part of a red bull thing, Casey rode his and he rode Caseys KTM 125 GP bike. Imagine that for your first ride!!

He also did a track day at HDs on MR Motorcycles zx6r

[CHOPPA]

Id be keen to write an article on road racing for say DRD or Kiwirider, it would prob be better if I could write but ill give it a go. Something that just shows an insiders view to road racing.

Another idea would be to offer a ride on one of the Moto Academy bikes to whoever wins the 125cc jnr nationals as a prize or maybe a ride at one round of the nats for each class winner?

How much would we have to raise Steve?

I guess the Superbike School would be good to attend for each rider as well, if it was marketed right then the School may be able to provide training free as its good advertising etc???

[RDjase]

There is always lots of discussion about how to encourage Jnr road racing.

Apart from the fact the kids are not allowed to race too early, there is ways to get on track like buckets etc.

The "Young Junior Road race" Class is for 10 to 13yr olds, but the specs (unless they have been changed) for the bikes sound like a JR or PW50 with road tyres. Not much fun for a kid that has been racing a 65cc 2 stroke MX bike.

At the MNZ conference Budda mentioned about opening up the 10 to 13 yr old class and has some bikes that sound alot more fun for young riders than a learner dirt bike for a 5 yr old with scooter tyres. I cant find the regs on the MNZ site. Will have a look and post it when I find it. In the old rules they were in 2 or 3 differnet places

My son Tyler did lots of riding at Kart tracks on his JR50 with scooter tyres at Bucket meeting lunchtimes. Would have been great to have a whole bunch of youngsters out there together

[scott411]

BT has done some laps of Hampton Downs on a ZX6R a couple of years ago and loved it, (i know it was my bike)

Choppa what you say is true, but what has been proved in christchurch with the junior 150's is it does work, but you need someone to run it, and put there time and passion into it, like the mx clubs do,

I have had a few people say to me that we need dirt track here to, and junior super motard,

I would love to have a go dirt track, but whos going to build the track and run the race day, organise the flags etc,

I had a Super Motard Bike, and loved the dual dirt/sealed tracks, but did not really enjoy the full out road circuits (and how fucken long you sat around at road race meetings for 3 sometimes 2 really short races), so i sold my gear as the 2-3 meetings a year did not justify my time and money tied up in the gear, I think a junior sportman class which was put into the rules that were written would go off once you got some numbers racing it

both have the same problem, no one to run these meetings, until you solve that problem, you will always only have the idea's.

[Billy]

BT has done some laps of Hampton Downs on a ZX6R a couple of years ago and loved it, (i know it was my bike)

Choppa what you say is true, but what has been proved in christchurch with the junior 150's is it does work, but you need someone to run it, and put there time and passion into it, like the mx clubs do,

I have had a few people say to me that we need dirt track here to, and junior super motard,

I would love to have a go dirt track, but whos going to build the track and run the race day, organise the flags etc,

I had a Super Motard Bike, and loved the dual dirt/sealed tracks, but did not really enjoy the full out road circuits (and how fucken long you sat around at road race meetings for 3 sometimes 2 really short races), so i sold my gear as the 2-3 meetings a year did not justify my time and money tied up in the gear, I think a junior sportman class which was put into the rules that were written would go off once you got some numbers racing it

both have the same problem, no one to run these meetings, until you solve that problem, you will always only have the idea's.

Spot on Scott,Motorcycling Canterbury have as you stated already proven that a low cost entry level class is successful,All the talk about grand prix machines and metrakit 125s is just hearsay in our community,What works in the bigger economies,Wont necessarily work here,The introduction of the Prolite 250 class at National level will be the biggest shot in the arm the sport will recieve and the foresight of the people at Hyosung NZ with the Hyosung cup will further enhance the class,The biggest asset the guys in Christchurch have is the huge amount of support from the parents involved,With both their time and whatever money than can afford,In the North Island it appears that very few will put anything in without being rewarded financially.I wouldnt be panicking at this stage,Just wait til the Hyosung cup and National series rolls around and see how big the feilds are in the Prolite class.

[oyster]

Prolite is not the answer. So far it's attracting only old riders. I'll be very surprised when I see a grid full of 13 year olds as we've seen for many years in Streetstock (South Island)
And MNZ have even set up the rules for it as a senior class IE no age category as Pro Twin has.
Young Junior Road race IS the answer and is proven as workable, successful and hugely attractive to a youngster. This idea the bikes /scene has to be all bling bling is bullshit. I've coached probably a hundred kids from 10 years and up. The ones that were obsessed with image (very few I might add) never lasted the proverbial 5 minutes. The ones who've toughed it out and had focussed make the list of our current teenage "greats"
People who think otherwise have no idea what's in the head of these kids. Try it, we have and it WORKS.
The biggest issue is the inability of clubs to provide the environment. If they do that, it thrives. This is not a theory, it's well proven

[Shaun]

Chopa, Brilliant post an awsome to see you being as pro active as you are in the game. Personally ( Haha) I wreckon if you were to focus your support energy commitment on trying to bring MX riders over to the Road scene it would be a huge boost for the sport mate.



* There is some OLD cleaver bar-stewards on here that need to sit down togther and agree to dis agree and build a plan and together direct it- PISS easy really hahahah- Here it comes

With your pit set up fallities presentation it will smoke mum and dads tyres

Carry on Driver