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THE ACU ACADEMY
Put simply, the ACU Academy opens doors for young talented riders that would otherwise remain shut.
It was launched in 2000 with the aim of selecting the best young riders in the UK and giving them back up, training and advice to help fast track their careers to create more British World Champions. Anyone between 13 and 17 years old can apply providing they have had at least one years racing experience.
Over the last 4 years the success of the Academy programme has been truly exceptional and exceeded everyone’s expectations. Names like Kieran Clarke, Craig Jones, Tom Bridewell, Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow are now widely recognised as the next generation of British winners…all are graduates of the ACU Academy. With Academy riders regularly adoring the podiums at British Championship level and top club level as well as achieving regular top ten finishes in World Championship competition, we are well on our way to our first Academy World Champion!
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But to get there riders have to devote a lot of effort to key areas such as diet and fitness, optimizing the media, presentation skills, dealing with sponsors, race tactics and last but not least… sports psychology. Valuable asset and coach to the Academy Ashley Scott, encourages riders to tune their minds to the task of improving lap times as much as they do their motorcycles.
But the foot-up it gives riders goes far beyond those stated aims. As well as organizing track days and tuition for young riders many of whom have difficulty getting on a circuit because of their age, the Academy talks direct to teams and will help place riders in situations they can learn from.
Dave Luscombe, ACU Academy Manager, said: “ Teams are always asking about riders for next season. They realise the potential of the kids we have in the Academy and approach us. We also approach teams when we feel the time is right for a rider to move onwards and upwards”
That world champion prospect has been brought even closer now with a new deal with British Championship team UK1 Racing, who have agreed to give the best two Academy riders a place in the team at British 125GP Championship level. Riders who prove themselves able will be given the chance to shine at Spanish and maybe even GP level.
Membership of the Academy is totally free of charge for your full 3 years. Something of a deal. Besides the off bike training, members are given a full programme of on bike coaching from some of the best trainers in the business…former British Champion Rob Herring for the Motocross boys and Champions Steve Sawford and Clive Horton and former WSB team manager Nigel Bosworth for the Road racers.
In 2004, the Road Race Academy had the benefit of 3 days testing and training in Spain with Bosworth and Horton, again, totally free of charge!
But all of this success comes at a price, and a high price at that. Funding to allow the scheme to succeed has come from the ACU, Governing Body of Motorcycle Sport in the UK, the motorcycle industry via the Motorcycle Industry Association and now for the first time, from the Government, thanks to a youth initiative put together by the ACU, UK1 Racing and the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA). The project will introduce a whole new generation of young people to the opportunities within motorcycle sport…not just riding but careers in management, design and even corporate hospitality!
The future is now brighter for British youngsters in motorcycle sport than it has been for many years. We are now delivering younger and younger winners in the UK and it is only a matter of time before this success is repeated on the world stage!
So in summary if you want to join this fast track programme, you’d better be quick – both on the track and in getting in contact with the Academy to be considered for a position. For more information contact Academy Manager Dave Luscombe on 07831 225798 or 01788 566430.
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