Each rider was interviewed by the panel along with their parent. The interview panel asked riders questions about their racing motivation, their career goals and their racing plans for 2008.
Each rider gave an excellent account of themselves in the interview and made the job of the panel very difficult. Tom Sykes, used to the high pressure environment of British Superbikes, found the job very hard but extremely enjoyable,“Having come through this process when I was in the Academy in 2001, it was great to be able to give the benefit of my experience to these young riders,” explained Sykes.
“I was really surprised a few years experience can help you see things so differently – I can now see how valuable the Academy can be to youngsters in short tracking their career,” he continued.
The final selection process ended with 5 riders being selected for the 2008 Road Race Academy:
• Joe Moore, aged 15 from Sheffield
• James East, aged 18 from Hertfordshire
• Bruce Wilson, aged 21 from Boston
• Shaun Horseman, aged 16 from Bolton
• Ryan Tyres, aged 16 from Southampton
The selected riders will begin their Academy membership with a full programme of free off bike seminars and free track time and coaching, starting in early January with a media skills seminar.
For more information on the ACU Road Race Academy, please contact Dave Luscombe on 07831 225798 or [email protected]