Championship | usarookiescup

What do the Pros think of Rookies training? Look below.

Most professional sports in America have a training system that allows young athletes to begin learning skills at an early age, play that sport through public school, and if talented enough, also in college. Many college players get drafted into professional teams, starting in lower-level or ‘minor’ leagues to develop their playing abilities and hoping for a chance to play in the ‘big show’.

For motorcycle roadracers, this kind of development system does not exist in America. Most talented riders enter ‘club’ or amateur contests, with the hope of having the skill and resources to move to a professional series. Many riders enter semi-pro GP series in countries as Europe and Japan to gain the skill and attention needed to participate on a professional level. It takes substantial skill, and financial resources, to make this jump to professional racing and most are not successful.

The American Young Guns Championship will provide young riders the start they need to become professional road racers.

The Riders

The American Young Guns Championship is open to riders 12-16 years of age with residence in North America that hold an active competition license from a recognized roadrace club in the USA, Canada or Mexico.

A selection process will take place based on a series of Qualification rounds held each Spring prior to competition. Up to 30 riders will be invited to participate in the AYG based on their performance in the qualification rounds, the level of interest shown in the Series, and their ability to participate for an entire season of racing.

The Bikes

The American Young Guns Championship has adopted 125GP as their weapon of choice. The most recent 125GP race machines, as built by KTM, Aprilia and other manufacturers, is considered most suitable to the Young Guns Championship and will be used in the series.

Upgrades to these machines to improve their performance and reduce their carbon footprint includes the use of advanced fuel injection and a ‘clean burn’ fuel in the Series.

Control fuel, tires and other elements will be used to highlight rider talent in the series.

The Series

The American Young Guns Championship will be featured as the premiere race event at various sport and racing events that currently exist. This will include events sanctioned by racing organizations as the American Motorcyclist Association, the US Grand Prix Riders Union, the AFM and other series.

An 8-10 race event schedule is planned, running from Spring to the Fall, of each race season. Three regional qualifying rounds will be held prior to race season to determine which riders will be invited to participate in the Championship.

Young Guns Championship

TESTIMONIALS

"I think our talent pool is as deep as it has ever been.....I think the Rookies Cup is a great program, and I think it’s proven, in ’08 the kids I coached here in the US, a lot of those kids are winning Daytona SportBike races, and Superpsort races, depending on what age group they are in. But man, the future that you have to look at, 'where do the guys go in front of me?' Well, they’re not really going anywhere. They’re just kind of stuck where you’re at, instead of having that support."

Kevin Schwantz, 500GP Champion- on the state of racing in the USA

"While Spain has schools and academies which prepare and train the kids for real-life racing on real bikes, the US has different age limits and this gives Europe a huge advantage. Having kids involved in high-performance racing earlier is a key element for raising a new generation of talented riders".