SKY'S THE LIMIT

It's been said that Motocross is to MotoGP what Go Karting is to Formula One - a breeding ground for the next generation of motorsport talent.  Just as Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard and certain others have honed their driving skills on the kart circuit from the moment they could climb behind the wheel you need look no further than the young Irish bike riding sensation Jonny Rea, to see how motocross can shape the skills of the world class Supersport rider.  Shape and add an extra dimension I would say, if you've ever seen the way Jonny rides Cadwell Park and lifts the racebike clear at the classic photo opportunity ... not exactly what the 50 thousand pound corner hugging superbike was made for but something truly spectacular to witness for the viewing public. 

Anyone that made it to the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Friday night for the first Supercross event of 2008 might have been left thinking "which one here is the next Jonny?"  Indeed while SUSO MVR-D Suzuki's own Carl Nunn battled it out against the best Americans in the 250 and 450 classes the race of the night was definitely in the junior class (riders from as young as 5 to 10 if I remember correctly) where for just under 2 laps it was nip and tuck at the front.  Then with just over 1 lap remaining all of the leading 3 collided in a heap!  The young snapper in fourth, all 8 years old of him, came piling through to take the honours. Incredible stuff! In the crowd we were all on our feet throughout the race displaying a full range of emotions from excitement for the competition, to concern for the youngsters' safety to, in my case, outright jealousy that I never got into the sport at their age.  What a way to learn, what an experience for the young men and what a training ground to find the next Valentino Rossi!  That is if these boys do indeed ever feel inclined to give up the dirt for the tarmac.  And these days there is infact a third avenue of opportunity on offer to the talented motocross rider, and as the clip below shows, for these creative, determined (kinda crazy) individuals, the sky really is the limit...