Moto Academy NZ launch 25 May 2008
Greetings to all of our official supporters, families and the wider supporter community. It was my pleasure to open proceedings on Moto Academy NZ at round 1 of the Actrix Victoria Motorcycle Club Superbike championships 2008 at Taupo Motorsports Park.
After several months of dreaming, designing, writing, negotiating and hard work, it all came down to this. All of the 4 Honda RS125s and the Honda RS250 arrived in almost 100% condition, bar one trailer rash and so after setting up the garage space, sorting out the boys and the bikes we were all set to go.
After riders briefing and our moment to remember my good mate Derek Hill, I introduced Moto Academy NZ to the captive audience and presented a certificate of achievement to Luke Jameson (16, Wellington) who was chosen as the recipient of the inaugural Moto Academy NZ Derek Hill Memorial Scholarship. Without the generosity of one of my and Dereks’ mutual good friends the launch of Moto Academy NZ would have been much more tenuous. The other riders that have taken the plunge and joined us are Glen Skachill (19, Paraparaumu), Sam Flynn (19, Paekakariki) and Kyle Hammond (18, Lower Hutt).
The day looked to be holding out the good weather, but was cold. This meant that the bikes would run nicely and not cause too many issues on the engine front. We warmed the bikes up, getting a good workout starting cold RS125’s, and the bikes all ran well to suggest no issues.
The boys were all anxious to get into it, but in the interests of good management the novice type classes (Streetstock and MotoGP125) were to be out last. This meant that Glen on the 250 in Superbike and Supersport classes was out first.
Glen performed very well for his first time out on the 250GP bike and you can read his own account of the day attached below. For me it was very gratifying to see Glen out on the 250 wrangling up the 600 and 1000cc bikes around the twisty Taupo infield. Of course he was dusted on the straight, but part of the fun is catching them up again!!
Sam has ridden a season or so on the 125 already so he requires a bit less attention that do Kyle and Luke, but we made some adjustments to Sams bike and decided that we needed to modify the fairing slightly for the next meeting and Sam improved throughout the day.
All of the riders wanted to take it easy on the first day out to make sure that they got up to speed with the bikes and to make sure that their new Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves and most especially their pride and joy Arai Helmets all got home safe and sound.
Luke and Kyle had not ridden MotoGP 125 previously, but have experience with Streetstock and ‘Bucket’ bikes. Both riders therefore were here to learn new bikes, new methods of riding and overall new skills before they attempt to push on into real racing.
Both riders improved their laptimes by 12 – 15 seconds which is an approximately 10% improvement in the one day of only 3 sessions. All four of the riders looked safe and secure in what they were doing, were clearly applying the ‘learning the art’ creedo rather than the ‘go like a bat out of hell and end up back there’ creedo which was very gratifying for me as their instructor/mentor.
Overall the day turned out better than we could have expected with all the riders (and Dads) fulfilling their dreams for the day and me fulfilling mine to see the start of what I hope will grow into a major part of the New Zealand or at least North Island road racing environment.
Without the help of my benefactor, the suppliers of Alpinestars, Arai Helmets, Fuchs Silkolene Lubricants, RK Chain, SBS Brakes, AFAM Sprockets, NGK Spark plugs, Tyrewarmers.co.nz, Godiva Screens, GJH Fibreglass , Kevin and Tim at Race Supplies, Sam Fitzgerald at Celtic Leathers and Pretzel at Evolution Panel and Paint Moto Academy NZ would not have been able to fulfil the riders dream and my ambitions. Moto Academy NZ has made a conscious effort to negotiate supply of only the best and safest products and from local suppliers and these people have been nothing but supportive and visionary enough to understand and support my foolish schemes!!
I must thank the Victoria Motorcycle Club of Wellington for their support and I must also thank my silent-ish partner and mentor of sorts and invaluable assistant Mike Reps. Without his support, help and investment I might have given up long ago. I will also thank my life partner Margo who supports me in most of my fanciful schemes!
We will seek to endorse these products to the best of our abilities, so please come and visit us at a race meeting near you to support the riders, discuss their progress and talk about the best products in the NZ racing market.
I thank you for your support and encouragement and look forward to Actrix VMCC SBK Rd 2, 21 June 2008 at Manfield.
Dr Steve Bagshaw
Director
Moto Academy NZ
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Originally Posted by ajturbo
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