Friday March 23, 2012 at 11:35am
The Honda Racing Xtreme Academy, which is running into its third year, is set to expand again in 2012 with events planned in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Belgium as part of Honda Europe’s initiative to help grow young riders.
The Xtreme Academy is predominantly a programme to help develop young CRF 150R riders competing in national championships with a separate Academy series being held within the existing race series’ in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and Finland. The Xtreme Academy initiative offers a range of benefits for young national races including peer mentoring, specialist training events, recognition as a Honda rider and access to an exciting prize pool.
2011 saw the Academy grow to new levels with the introduction of the Nordic Challenge, which offered the opportunity for racers across the Nordic region to compete against each other aboard fourstroke machinery with mentoring from former Grand Prix winner and Xtreme Academy trainer, Brian Jorgensen. In 2012 further events will be added to the Academy calendar with the existing Xtreme Academy championships, additional special races, and training events throughout Europe tailored to help young riders climbing on the first step of the racing ladder aboard Honda’s fourstroke machinery.
With a great number of sponsors including One Industries, Vans footwear, Racebikebitz, Polisport, No-Toil and Renthal, as well as a substantial prize fund from Honda and with all the benefits of being a Honda racer, the Xtreme Academy is set to be even more exciting this season. With riders aged 10-16 aboard CRF 150R machinery all over Europe benefiting from extra help and recognition as a Honda rider. This includes the training from Jorgensen who is renowned for his ability in improving riding style and race mentoring, making the Xtreme Academy programme an ideal support mechanism to help youngsters as they progress through the ranks. The first Xtreme Academy race this year takes place on the 1st of April at Ponte a Egola in Italy, followed by numerous events around Europe aimed at helping develop young Honda riders.
Roger Harvey: Honda Motor Europe Off-Road Manager
“It’s great that the Honda Xtreme Academy is continuing to expand as we head into its third year. We know that many of the young riders that have benefited from the programme have gone on to compete successfully in the youth and adult ranks higher up aboard fourstroke machinery, and the Academy has been a great proving ground to give them a basis to work from as they aspire to new levels. We are also very grateful for all of the support from the Academy sponsors, as the prizes for championship events have certainly proven popular with the young riders. However, the main emphasis of the Academy is the development and recognition, especially with the training events we hold with Brian, which focus on helping the riders get the very best out of their machines. I’m sure it’s going to be another exciting, fiercely contested season in each nation al series, and we’ll be following the young riders as they progress through the year.”