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RIDER PROFILES
All the racers you’ll speak to will have heard of these guys. Here’s some advice to inspire you. Hopefully one day it’ll be you pictured here giving out the advice!
Fogarty |
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Carl Fogarty is a four-time World Superbike Champion, Formula One World Champion (no not that F1) and TT winner. Everybody but everybody who rides bike knows the name Carl Fogarty. Its been a few years since the last title but Foggy is still in the limelight. Just for different reasons.
“Just go out and do it. It is much easier to get into bike racing today than when I was young.
“First of all you should join a road race club and then go to as many race meetings as possible and get as much information as you can. You can be racing from as young as 11-years of age and the younger you are to start with the better. At that sort of age you should speak to your local club or the ACU to find tracks to ride on.
“The earlier you start riding, the better the chance you have of succeeding. Just look at Rossi. He’s been riding mini-moto’s since he was 10 and its given him an advantage.
“ It is down to the individual how much they want it and what they get involved in racing for. For me it was always wanting to be the best – I enjoyed winning.
“I learnt a lot through racing and it was a big adventure. My best advice is simple: Get into racing, there is nothing stopping you. If you want it for the right reasons and to be successful, go and join a club.”
Foggy is a good example of what to do after you hang up the leathers. He heads FPR. Or Foggy Petronas Racing, to give its full title. A concern that races bikes in WSB, one of the highest profile series in the world. And not one to settle for an easy challenge, they decided to design, build and homologate their very own bike.
McWilliams |
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Jeremy MCWilliams is a rider who at 24 came late to the sport. But it hasn’t done him any harm, he’s just moved from Team KR back to Aprilia. What series are we talking about? Only MotoGP.
“I started when I was 24-years old. At the time I was working in electronics full-time and bought myself an RD350 Yamaha. I took it to a track and tried racing – I ended up winning the Irish Championship at my first attempt.
“I reckon the only way to improve is to keep moving forwards and always to be racing people better than yourself. If you race at a level you will always be caught at that level. I always wanted to move up as quickly as possible. I see it in the same way as golf – if you want to improve in that game you have to play people better than you. But it is also important to know the right time to move on.
“It is hard to get the breaks in bike racing. There are some potentially brilliant riders who just never get noticed because they’re never at the right place at the right time.
“There’s always been help for the Spanish and Italian riders to get to the top. Now the organizers want British riders as well, which wasn’t the case when I started – so it might be easier now.
“I have a shop in Belfast and I have sold race bikes to old and young riders wanting to have a go. They don’t need any experience and they never have to have been on a track day to get started. All they have to do is join a club, complete the licence procedure and generally there is a series they can enter. You could be find yourself as championship of one of the starter series for as little as £4500.
“I would say to anyone interested in arcing that they should aim high. Decide on a racing route to follow and stick to it. Set a goal each year – at first it might simply be to finish a race. Then step it up to winning a race. I aim for someone to beat when I ride. When I beat them, then I know I can do it again and set a new goal.
Hodgson |
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Neil Hodgson, took over the mantle left in WSB by Foggy, won that and has now stepped up to MotoGP. Along the way he also won the 2000 British SuperBike title. Ducati and Hodgson have helped each other along considerably.
“It doesn’t really matter which route you take into the sport. I came from a motocross background. Ex team mate and fellow Brit WSB rider James Toseland came from trials before he took his first step into road racing.
“I believe the secret of success is not to worry what other people are doing. Set yourself some realistic targets, even if its to not finish last in your first race, and then try to accomplish them in your own time.
“Also, don’t forget to enjoy yourself along the way – that should be your main objective. If you’re your good enough to win your club championship, then you may have the opportunity to progress. However if you’re not able to get past that level, then don’t worry and continue to enjoy what you’re doing.
“And finally, the best advice that I could pass on from my career is to look after the people who provide the funding. Remember that without them, you would not be able to go racing. So don’t forget to give them the VIP treatment whenever they come to see you race.”
Reynolds |
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British Superbike Contender, (and ex title holder no less) John Reynolds is a veteran of the British and world racing scene. On his CV he can boast wins at just about any level and is one of the most consistent riders on the track. In the UK paddock he is accessible and always mindful of the needs of the press, sponsors and his fans, making him one of the best all round motorcycle racers in the business.
“I remember how tough it was on the way up through the ranks all too clearly to be honest, it’s just as tough now, so I guess some things don’t change.
“But I would say that you must never lose sight of what you want to achieve. You also have to be prepared to make racing the most important thing in your life. Without total focus you’ll never achieve your goals.
“For some people just going racing is enough – racing for fun. But for others and myself, only winning is good enough and it takes a lot more commitment to go that extra one or two per cent.
“But I still love my racing – I enjoy it as much now as I did at my first race on my dad’s 350cc Velocette. The bikes may be 1slightly different but it’s still the greatest buzz in the world.
“I started by riding a bike my dad built in schoolboy motocross. He used a little Suzuki road bike and converted in for off-road. You can’t do that nowadays, but there are some fantastic kids bikes on the market. The younger you can start the better. Off –road riding teaches you a heck of a lot about throttle control and machine control – skills that have stood me well in road racing.
“If your parents aren’t that keen, you can still learn an awful lot by going to schoolboy motocross meetings and maybe helping a rider out at an event. I’d recommend going to a few club road race meetings as a spectator before you decide anything. Talk to the competitors, study the different categories and make a note of which bike seem to be the most competitive or the most affordable. In this instance you can’t do enough homework. As Rossi’s chief mechanic states; ‘Fail to prepare – prepare to fail’.
“There is no easy route to becoming a champion. It’ll take every ounce of your determination, hard work, preparation, training practice and cash. But if you want it, really, really, want it bad enough, then nothing is impossible. If you all expect it to fall in your lap though, you could be in for a shock.
Summary
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Join a road race club and get a licence from the ACU. |
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The younger you start the better. |
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Consider motocross or mini-moto’s – they can teach you a lot about machine control. |
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Never forget your sponsors – work hard to keep them happy. |
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Road racing is more affordable than ever before. |
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Make sure you enjoy yourself. |
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Aim high and set yourself progressive goals on track. |
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Preparation and determination are key ingredients of success. |
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