All new GP Juniors Cup Road Racing program launched!
Motorcycling Australia is pleased to announce 2017 will see the introduction of a new Junior road racing development program, designed to be more accessible, affordable and harvest optimal opportunities for young, aspiring road racers.
The introduction of a single-make production-based road racing class, formulated to develop race craft and highlight upcoming talent, will form the platform to increase grids and identify Australia’s next future national and world champions.
Motorcycling Australia will be partnering with GP Juniors Australia and assisted by Yamaha Motor Australia. Both of whom share MA’s vision to build a production based feeder program where talent rather than budget determines the outcome.
The new GP Juniors Cup will utilise the highly dynamic Yamaha R15 plus race kit parts for a bargain price of $4,499.00 or race prepared for $4,699.00 – excluding race tyres. GP Juniors Australia will also offer a fleet of R15’s available to lease on a round by round basis for those wanting try road racing before making the commitment to purchase their own bike.
The class will be open to juniors aged between 12-years-old to under 16-years-old and will be introduced in two stages. In 2017 the GP Juniors Cup will form part of the GP Juniors Australia Championship, three rounds of which will feature at the Australian Superbike Championship.
In 2018 the GP Juniors Cup will become a permanent feature of MA’s ASBK Championship, showcasing junior talent in front of the factory teams and on ASBK TV, with the winner of the 2018 title taking home a race prepped Yamaha R3 Cup machine!
MA’s Operations and Events Director Martin Port, who has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to support GP Juniors Australia to broaden the prospects for young road racers, explains where the motivation has branched from in creating the GP Juniors Cup.
“It’s MA’s vision to create and strengthen pathways for our young hopefuls to make it to the national, and possibly the world stage. The GP Juniors Cup is a significant step in achieving this and MA is excited at the prospect of working with GP Juniors Australia promotor Mark Bracks to make this a reality,” he shared.
“You only need to look to Italy and Spain to see what works. Both countries have been dominating the world stage for the past decade. The success in Europe is a result of nationally run, highly contested single-make racing programs; developing the necessary skills to fight for world titles at an age most Australian road races only start on the tarmac.
“MA’s mission is to open the sport of road racing to a younger generation of riders through a platform that teaches race craft and rider development at both state and national levels. It’s not about the haves and have nots, it’s about a level playing field so talent can shine.”
Bracks also shared his excitement on the single-make, production based feeder class, “It’s great to be working with MA to be part of a fantastic developmental program for Aussie junior road racers, who are the future of our sport both domestically and globally.
“With a proposed six round calendar in 2017 for the GP Junior Championship, three rounds featuring at ASBK, Australian GP Juniors Cup riders will gain invaluable experience not only on-track, but off-track as well, with mentoring and guidance provided by well-known Australian motorcycle racing legends.
“To make it even easier to get into the GP Juniors Cup, GP Juniors Australia is offering a leasing program for the race ready Yamaha R15, which will be transported to every round and maintained by GP Juniors Australia. This opens up the sport for more kids from Junior MX, Speedway or Flat Track to have a crack at road racing,” shared Bracks.
Yamaha Motor Australia Managing Director, Steven Cotterell had this to say about the GP Juniors Cup, “Yamaha has a long history of supporting up and coming riders in both road and off-road competition. Many international and national stars had their first riding experience on a Yamaha PW50 and have worked their way up through the many Yamaha step up classes on the way to stardom.
“In road racing, Yamaha already supports riders on the YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and more recently the YZF-R3. It was only natural that Yamaha supported junior racing with the YZF-R15. The “We R Family” concept is now complete and Yamaha now has an avenue to truly leverage its bLU cRU customers right throughout their road racing careers.
“We are looking forward to helping grow the junior ranks alongside Motorcycling Australia and provide them with the best package to get involved in the sport of road racing,” concluded Cotterell.
What’s include for $4,499.00:
- Yamaha R15
- Race fairing set
- Braided steel front brake line
- Lower set handlebars
- Adjustment plates for rear set footpegs
- Engine cover crash knobs fitted
- Performance exhaust system fitted
- Alternate rear sprockets kit
- Rear stand pickups to enable race stand to be used
- Graphics kit
The 2017 Australian Superbike Championship rounds where GP Juniors Cup will run:
- Round 2 – March 17-19 – Wakefield Park Raceway
- Round 3 – April 28-10 – Winton Motor Raceway
- Round 5 – August 25-27 – Morgan Park Raceway
For more information on the GP Juniors Cup, please visit ASBK website, www.gpjuniorsaustralia.com.au or contact Mark Bracks via markbracks111@gmail.com
The 2017 ASBK calendar:
- Round 1: 23rd – 26th February (WSBK Support Classes), Phillip Island Grand Prix
- Round 2: 17th – 19th March, Wakefield Park, NSW
- Round 3: 28th – 30th April, Winton Motor Raceway, VIC
- Round 4: TBA
- Round 5: 25th – 27th August, Morgan Park Raceway, QLD
- Round 6: 8th – 10th September, Sydney Motor Sport Park, NSW
- Round 7: 6th – 8th October, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC
