This has to be the coolest parenting story I’ve heard. I spoke to this kid and his folks while at the track this past Saturday.
Earlier this year, a 15 year old youngster living in rural Quebec started running with the wrong crowd. I can relate, I was a farm boy as a teen and when there aint much to do, it’s easy to start going down the wrong path. Idle hands being the devil’s workshop & such… So the parents decided to do something about it. My folks would give me more chores to keep me busy. His parents took a different approach.
On his 16th birthday, good ‘ol dad took him to the license bureau to get his learners permit. He set him up with an ’09 ninja 250 and had him at this track for the sport riding course / practice sessions within a couple of days. So he and good ‘ol dad will ride together every open track day they can and hopefully, this new hobby would be a positive diversion. (I asked - he had never ridden ANY bike before)
NB: this is a perfect track for such an initiative, since it’s a very tight supermoto track with no true straight-aways (fastest I hit is 130kms in the only ‘high’ speed section). It’s all about knowing the lines and keeping your speed, especially if you’re on a bike with little or no steam.
(this isn't the 16 yr old on his ninja lol)
It's pretty safe for learning - at every critical turn, there’s ample run-off space with gentle sand berms to catch overly-enthusiastic riders. Each time I’ve gone, there have been at least 3 or 4 get-offs (none mine, thank you) but egos and shifter/brake/clutch levers are the only things to take serious damage.
This guy ditched (not the kid) and did bust his shifter lever.
But if he was able to ride back to the pit, that's a 'good' get-off in my books.
On this tight track, my FJR, is constantly at the edge of her PR2s and the left foot peg feeler is half-gone after 4 track days. It’s not about getting faster & faster lap times, I’m just out there grinning and having safe fun.
So this one lap, I notice someone’s behind me. I signal him to pass and ease-off the gas to get it over with. Now imagine my surprise to see this little 250 FLY past me! I wasn’t even tempted to try flogging the FJR in those tight curves hard enough to…… to…… (gasp) all right, I’ll say it: to KEEP UP with the kid on his 250!!!
I had passed my camera to a guy sitting track-side so sadly and he focused on me and my buddy Steve on his BMW so I don't have too many pics of the kid in action
But here he is, with Steve coming up behind him. The little ninja is probably pretty quick for him... if you notice the left leg hanging down, the kid can't be even close to 100lbs yet.
Here they are the next lap. You can see Steve's big R1200S got him past the kid in the fast section but back in the twisties, the kid is still on Steve's ***! They would both go on to pass the ZX7 later this lap. :yahoo: I was having as much fun watching the kid ride as I was having, riding myself!
Watching this kid creep-away from me, it was almost inspiring to watch him and see the skill with which he handled his bike, his proper riding position, settling hard into the right lines and actually working that ninja close to its full sporting potential, all in his first month of riding.
here they are again. I notice that the kid has good form and is always looking where he's supposed to be.
Then there's me :blush2: In my defense, buddy popped-up to take a pic and scared the crap out of me as I was approaching the yellow apex cone.. blew my whole line.
Kudos to his parents for taking the initiative and investing time / resources to keep their kid out of trouble. Also, if you’re going to bring your kid into riding, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better environment to teach him right.
..... lucky little *******
Earlier this year, a 15 year old youngster living in rural Quebec started running with the wrong crowd. I can relate, I was a farm boy as a teen and when there aint much to do, it’s easy to start going down the wrong path. Idle hands being the devil’s workshop & such… So the parents decided to do something about it. My folks would give me more chores to keep me busy. His parents took a different approach.
On his 16th birthday, good ‘ol dad took him to the license bureau to get his learners permit. He set him up with an ’09 ninja 250 and had him at this track for the sport riding course / practice sessions within a couple of days. So he and good ‘ol dad will ride together every open track day they can and hopefully, this new hobby would be a positive diversion. (I asked - he had never ridden ANY bike before)
NB: this is a perfect track for such an initiative, since it’s a very tight supermoto track with no true straight-aways (fastest I hit is 130kms in the only ‘high’ speed section). It’s all about knowing the lines and keeping your speed, especially if you’re on a bike with little or no steam.
(this isn't the 16 yr old on his ninja lol)
It's pretty safe for learning - at every critical turn, there’s ample run-off space with gentle sand berms to catch overly-enthusiastic riders. Each time I’ve gone, there have been at least 3 or 4 get-offs (none mine, thank you) but egos and shifter/brake/clutch levers are the only things to take serious damage.
This guy ditched (not the kid) and did bust his shifter lever.
But if he was able to ride back to the pit, that's a 'good' get-off in my books.
On this tight track, my FJR, is constantly at the edge of her PR2s and the left foot peg feeler is half-gone after 4 track days. It’s not about getting faster & faster lap times, I’m just out there grinning and having safe fun.
So this one lap, I notice someone’s behind me. I signal him to pass and ease-off the gas to get it over with. Now imagine my surprise to see this little 250 FLY past me! I wasn’t even tempted to try flogging the FJR in those tight curves hard enough to…… to…… (gasp) all right, I’ll say it: to KEEP UP with the kid on his 250!!!
I had passed my camera to a guy sitting track-side so sadly and he focused on me and my buddy Steve on his BMW so I don't have too many pics of the kid in action
But here he is, with Steve coming up behind him. The little ninja is probably pretty quick for him... if you notice the left leg hanging down, the kid can't be even close to 100lbs yet.
Here they are the next lap. You can see Steve's big R1200S got him past the kid in the fast section but back in the twisties, the kid is still on Steve's ***! They would both go on to pass the ZX7 later this lap. :yahoo: I was having as much fun watching the kid ride as I was having, riding myself!
Watching this kid creep-away from me, it was almost inspiring to watch him and see the skill with which he handled his bike, his proper riding position, settling hard into the right lines and actually working that ninja close to its full sporting potential, all in his first month of riding.
here they are again. I notice that the kid has good form and is always looking where he's supposed to be.
Then there's me :blush2: In my defense, buddy popped-up to take a pic and scared the crap out of me as I was approaching the yellow apex cone.. blew my whole line.
Kudos to his parents for taking the initiative and investing time / resources to keep their kid out of trouble. Also, if you’re going to bring your kid into riding, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better environment to teach him right.
..... lucky little *******
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