Juniors to ride at the Australian Grand Prix
Two dozen young Australians will enjoy the experience of a lifetime when they ride in a special demonstration of junior motorcycling at the 2008 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix from 3 – 5 October.
Event organisers, in conjunction with Motorcycling Australia, have teamed up with motorcycle manufacturers Honda and Metrakit to offer 24 youngsters aged 9 – 16 the opportunity to ride at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on the same days as their MotoGP heroes, Rossi, Stoner and co.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Drew Ward, is thrilled to be able to showcase junior motorcycle racers on an international stage.
“Motorcycling, both as a sporting and leisure pursuit, is experiencing phenomenal growth,” said Mr Ward.
“At the same time, interest in MotoGP in this country has never been greater. Young people are at the heart of this boom in the sport’s expansion. We believe it’s imperative to harness this enthusiasm and foster the involvement of our up-and-coming racers by providing them with the opportunities to realise their full potential in the sport.”
Motorcycling Australia CEO, David White, is equally enthusiastic about the new venture.
“This announcement presents a fantastic opportunity for Australia to showcase its best junior road racing talent on a grand scale,” said Mr White.
“With tens of thousands of people watching, 24 of our most promising youngsters will be able to demonstrate the training and skill development that goes in to the junior area of our sport.
“This is important as it shows what riders need to go through before they can compete and participate, and it gives them the chance to take part in the biggest motorcycling event on our calendar.
“For some time MA and the GP Corporation have been looking at the best means of showcasing junior road racing and this exciting announcement is a result of those discussions.”
The young riders will be selected from the junior development programmes of both Honda and Metrakit and will ride in front of an expected bumper crowd in a series of demonstration rides at the country’s premier two-wheeled event.
A ten minute session will be held each day of the Grand Prix weekend and will see some of the country’s best young riders parading their talents in a spectacular promotion of junior road racing.
Glyn Griffiths, Motorcycle Marketing Manager with Honda Australia, is delighted to throw Honda’s support behind the initiative.
“We have a long term commitment to junior racing in Australia and this event can only help raise the profile of junior racing in Australia,” said Mr Griffiths.
“The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is the pinnacle of the annual domestic racing calendar and we think it’s great that Motorcycling Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation have got together to give kids the chance to showcase their skills in front of this audience. We’re extremely pleased to be involved and to have the opportunity to demonstrate Honda’s enduring support of road racing in Australia.”
Jennifer Diles from Metrakit Australia is also excited to be involved.
“We appreciate the opportunity that has been offered by the Grand Prix Corporation to allow our 9 to 16 year old Junior Metrakit GP racers to be involved in this prestigious event and for their assistance and support in raising the profile of junior motorcycle racing in Australia from grass roots through to elite,” said Ms Diles.
“The Metrakit concept is to enable the younger generation to start racing and to naturally progress to 125 GP and beyond, providing the machine, race series, environment and opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
15 year-old Adrian Di-Giandomenico, who took second place in the 80cc class of the 2007 Troy Corser Agencies Metrakit Junior GP Championship, has already been selected to take part in the demonstration.
“I can’t wait!” said Adrian.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience riding my Metrakit at the MotoGP in front of all the factory GP Teams.”
Joining Adrian on the Phillip Island track in October will be 12 year-old Matty Davies, who was the winner in the 70cc class at the same event.
“This is heaps cool,” said Matty.
“I can’t wait to be riding on the same circuit on the same day as the MotoGP riders. This is something a kid can only dream about and now it’s actually happening.”
A special display promoting junior road racing will be erected in the national support paddock at this year’s GP. Representatives from Honda and Metrakit will be on hand to answer young peoples’ enquiries on how to get involved in motorcycle racing.
| Images of the CBR150s in action at Phillip Island |
