Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1151987
THE STATE OF MOTOAMERICA P90 Feature competed in an official factory ca- pacity since 2010, Honda since 2006, and Kawasaki since 2003. Incredibly, the last time we had a champion on anything other than a Yamaha or Suzuki was when the late Nicky Hayden (Honda) defeated Suzuki's Mat Mladin for the title in 2002, setting himself up for his golden ticket to the big time with Repsol Honda in 2003. Hayden's success is some- thing MotoAmerica is trying to replicate. However, the one area in which an American is most likely to succeed on the world stage might not come from the rules, but the breeding ground. MotoGP rights holder Dorna has made a concerted push in recent years to develop junior talent via se- ries like the British and Asia Talent Cup, and the recently announced Northern Talent Cup for Northern and Central European riders. Un- fortunately, there's one glaring area missing in this grand international plan—the United States. "We know that," says Rainey. "We haven't really announced it yet, but we think there would be [an American Talent Cup]. If we did something like that, we'd probably do it in the wintertime. We'd probably do it in California. We'd do it over four to six weeks. It would be free to the riders that it would be presented to. Our idea would be that we would pick two or three kids and see which one we thought [was good enough], and then try to send them over to the European cham- pionship with our own team. So, there's a big plan there." Rainey admits the future of American road racing in terms of sheer riding talent is bright, with M4 Ecstar Suzuki's Sean Dylan Kelly and Ninja400R.com Kawasaki rider Rocco Landers the breakout stars of 2019. Both riders have European experience and want to get back into the world championship. That's something Rainey admits the rider must have—the want and determination to compete at the highest level. "As far as going overseas, I think the rider has got to want to do it first," Rainey says. "If you look at where the American riders were before we started, and now having the opportunities that are present- ed here, now these guys are going to have to go abroad and make their faces known. They're going to have to try to push to ride the Suzuka 8 Hour. I think the riders, they're going to have to show that they want to do it, and they're going to have to make the attempt to go over there. If they do that, they'll get the opportunities." Garrett Gerloff finally broke through for his first MotoAmerica Superbike win at Laguna Seca, marking a new name at the top for MotoAmerica. Fourteen-year-old Rocco Landers has been the preeminent breakout star of 2019.