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.
