Cycle News

VOL. 52 ISSUE 24 JUNE 16, 2015 P189 as a Speedway racer overseas. Maybe the next Greg Hancock? Time will tell, but it's a great start. There's plenty examples of race programs that develop young talent, but one that stands out in my mind was the Honda Red Rider Cup that was a part of AMA Supermoto Championship back in 2003-2005. It's a shame there aren't entry lists and results preserved for posterity, because it's a who's who in racing these days—in multiple disciplines. I remember some of the names from shooting a few years of the championship, JD Beach was one, it's hard to forget a kid with dirt track leathers and a steel shoe backing it in in every corner—and winning. There's plenty of other A-list names that took part in that series, names like—Mike Alessi, Sammy Halbert, Tommy Aquino, Cameron Beaubier, JD Beach, Shayna Texter, Taylor Robert… Perhaps the best way to put it in perspective was the podium at Copper Mountain, Colorado in 2005—Beaubier, Brad Baker and Taylor Robert. All champions by that point in time; all leaders in their sport, at a young age. If there was any doubt about the importance of investing in the future and of the importance of competition at a young age, look at the amateur motocross/ supercross ranks. The level of competition is scary, in that it's so heated. There's a nine-year- old (I'm probably being gener- ous) that can kick most adults asses out there. The debate as to whether it's too serious out there in moto- cross, is not part of the debate here. The point is, there's a reason that America is so strong in the sport of Motocross and Supercross. The sport is healthy and thriving. The reality is that sports are more specialized these days than in the past. And they also require training talent young. There are guys like Mick Doohan or Max Biaggi, or even in the U.S., Josh Hayes that jump into the game in their late teens. But this day in age, you develop the stars of the future at a younger age. Kid classes—spec series, with the goal to bring up young racers generally have a history of success. Look at the current generation of top American road racers—Cameron Beaubier, Jake Gagne, JD Beach… All Red Bull Rookie Cup participants. As the newly branded AMA Superbike championship, Mo- toAmerica's mission statement is grooming the next generation of road racers, its new spec class the KTM RC390 Cup could arguably be considered the featured class in the series. With two rounds already under its belt—the class has already showcased some young up-and- coming talent in the U.S. A class for youngsters be- tween the age of 14-22 (okay, maybe 22's a bit too old to be called a youngster), with close racing has something that has been missing since the de- parture of the rookie cup after DMG took over management of the series. In fact, if you look around the globe, you'd be hard pressed to find a road race se- ries without a spec "kid" class. And with all the competition out there to draw kids into in a motorsport, stick and ball sports as well, a race series needs to try and capture the attention of future athletes. In the end, a sport is nothing with out its ath- letes. Even better if you can land someone with talent and star power of say, a Valentino Rossi. Grooming future road racers is also not lost on the popular multi-time World Champion as he created his own VR46 Acad- emy to help bring up competitive Italian racers in the sport. Investing in the future pays dividends. And the race series that invests in its future stars will see investment pay off in the health of their own sport and perhaps future World Champi- ons. CN

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