Road Race Spotlight June25/08 Spotlight Article on Ben Young

If the caliber of young talent in Canadian road racing is indicative of a healthy sport then you can cancel the doctor’s appointment. The sport is indeed well on its way, with a crew of very talented racers plying their trade here, the latest one landing on our shores all the way from Scotland. I had the chance recently to chat with 15-year-old Ben Young, all the way from Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, a busy little town of over 15,000 people. Father Scott is an accomplished former road-racer, so Ben spent his early years in the paddock at British Superbike and Scottish Championship race venues. From there, the youngster got the racing bug and the rest as they say, is history. Ben and sister Robyn made the trip to Canada last year when their parents came seeking a better standard of living for the close-knit family, and immediately made an impression on the motorcycle road-racing community.

How long have you been racing?
I just turned 15 a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been racing for 7 years.

Tell me about your first bike?
My first bike was a little blue and white Yamaha PW 50 twist and go (automatic) which I used to ride around our garden, it was a huge garden.

Did you race in Scotland?
Yes I started racing when I was 8 on a pocket bike then at 12 on an Aprilia Rs 125 road bike.

How would you compare racing in Scotland as opposed to racing here in Canada?
Racing in Scotland is a lot the same apart from the weather and sometimes we have a lot more riders in Scotland.

What is your favorite track?
In the UK my favorite track is Oulton Park and in North America it is Summit Point, WV.

What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I’m most proud of is to be named one of the 44 best teenaged racers of 2007 in the world (apart from the Americas) by the Red Bull Rookies selection process.

Tell me about your Red Bull experience.
I was one of 100 riders chosen to go to Sachenring in Germany by applying on line through Red Bull Rookies website. It was a 2 day event. The first day everyone was put into groups and you were given a vest each. Everyone got out I think 4 times. After the first day 50 riders were asked to return the following day and I was one of them. The bikes we used were Metrakit 125's. Over both days I was one of the top 10 fastest and the 2nd fastest British rider. At the end of the 2nd day Red Bull told everyone that they would let us know by sending an email within 2 weeks.

Just after a week I got an email asking to go to Paul Ricard in France in October for the final selection. Because we were moving to Canada late September we emailed Red Bull and asked if we would go to the US Rookies. They wrote back saying that they would be very disappointed if I went to the US as I did so well in Germany. 2 weeks after we moved here my Dad and I flew to France to Paul Ricard, we didn’t even get jet lag because we were only there 3 nights. It was over 2 days again. This time is was 44 riders, 22 from Sashenring selection and the other 22 from the Southern part of the world. There were riders from Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Briton, Australia, Japan, everywhere except the Americas. I was the only Scottish rider. The first day it was wet all day, no one really got up to speed so Red Bull told everyone to go back the following day. They said it was to be wet in the morning and to treat the morning as a further test and to get used to the bike and track again because the afternoon was to be dry. It was wet again the next day. Everyone got out on track for a wet session and then Red Bull called a lunchtime briefing. At the lunchtime meeting, another 24 riders were dropped from the list and, unfortunately, I was one of them. I was so disappointed because of what they told us in the email about not going to the US Rookies. My dad said it was not to be and not to worry and to try again the next year. I have applied again but for the US Rookies which is being held at Barbar in October so I hope I will get the chance again to try. I am waiting for them to get back to me. I really enjoyed going to Germany and France. Sachenring is a brilliant track; I would love to go back there one day. And Paul Ricard is unbelievable, it is owned by Berny Echelston the Formula 1 (F1) guy. No races are held there it is just a testing track. It’s an amazing circuit.

What was your worst moment in racing?
The worst moment in racing was breaking my shoulder the week before I was going to Sachsenring, Germany to test for the Red Bull Rookies Selection for 2008. Luckily, I got laser treatment a few days before the event, which repaired it.

Tell me about your race record? (ie: wins, records, championships)
My first year racing full size bikes, I finished 8th in the Formula 125 Scottish Championships on a standard Aprilia RS 125. I got my first pole position, fastest lap and win in my first year of racing again on my Aprilia. In 2007 I raced at the British Championship level before moving to Canada. So far I have won all the races at the RACE Superseries regional 125cc championship this year on my Honda GP 125 and broke the lap record at the Shannonville Long track by .5 seconds.

What do you like most/ least about racing motorcycles?
The most I like about racing is riding my bike and the least I like about racing is leaving after the weekend.

What goals do you have in racing?
The goals I have in racing are to reach Moto GP championship level and racing to be my career.

What other sports do you like?
Other sports I like are cycling and skiing

What would you say to another kid that was thinking about getting into racing?
It’s not as easy as it looks but once you get into it with a lot of practice and hard work it’s a great sport to be involved in.

Who would you like to thanks for support?
A big thanks to Sandy Noce at Pro 6 Cycle and Dunlop tires. I would also like to thank all my family and KBC helmets

If any individual, company, manufacture etc would like to sponsor Ben and to help him achieve his dream" contact Ben through mailto:scott-d-young@hotmail.com