Cycle News

Cycle News 2021 Issue 07 February 17

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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P110 CN III IN THE PADDOCK BY MICHAEL SCOTT I t was with mixed feelings that I read the recent announcement of the latest Dorna-FIM recruit- ment drive, and I don't think this is unusual. The initiative, due to com- mence in July (pandemic permit- ting), comprises sundry pro- posed national championships, targeting children aged 10 to 14. They will act as a sub-feeder series to the existing feeder series: Red Bull Rookies/Asia Talent/Northern Talent Cups and the Spanish CEV "Junior World Championship." A pre-teen kindergarten on kart tracks, with full-time commit- ted riders on identical minibikes. Permanent entry lists, control tires, and so on. Just like the grown-ups. Uncomfortably so? The Ohvale GP-0 160 minibikes prescribed are neat little rac- ers—upside-down forks and linkage rear suspension, and a four-stroke 160cc engine whose quoted power output of 15 bhp seems on the modest side. But if you think back to the early days of the World Championship, a 125 GP rider would be surprised and delighted to have that much power at his disposal, and a 250 single wouldn't have had much more. Ridden not by 10-year- olds, but fully fledged grand prix adults. The range of responses to this news runs the gamut, from "wow, what an opportunity" to "hands off our kids;" and de- pends a lot on parental predis- position. And gender. Take the fatherly perspective first. My own runs as follows: I wish, when I'd been 10, my father had bought me a MiniGP bike and sponsored a racing career. But I'm relieved I didn't do that for my own son. Not everyone would agree. "Motocross Dad" is a stinging trope for dads taking out their own frustrations forcing an Kids On Race Bikes? Don't Ask The Memsahib Mainly that if your kid wants to do dangerous things badly enough, he'll find a way, so it's better that it's done under supervision, with a medical team standing by.

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