New Team Wood Motorcycle Youth Academy launched

A committee of six members from the Motorcycle Road Racing Club of Ireland (MCRRCI), which runs the Enkalon Trophy and David Wood Memorial short circuit meetings annually, received the blessing of former Joey Dunlop manager Wood’s widow Lee to proceed with the project in 2020.

Wood was a former chairman of the MCRRCI and a wonderful ambassador for Irish motorcycling, who sadly passed away in 2004.

The aim of the Academy is to ‘help parents/guardians with our support and knowledge to give these young competitors between the ages of 12 15, both boys and girls, an opportunity in motorcycle racing at a lower cost and receive the right training and technique to inspire confidence’.

Committee member Mark Sanlon added: “After our David Wood Memorial race event in September, we identified that we could possibly help with the way youths are introduced to the national tarmac motorcycle racing from mini, pit-bike and motocross racing when they become 12 years old.

“Currently, the Irish Minibike Championship caters for youth riders from the age of six years to veteran road racers.

“Many European countries have established a way to turn schoolkids into Grand Prix champions: Italy and Spain lead the way, while Britain only recently introduced the British Talent Cup, now a British Championship class in which youngsters get a shot at the big time.

“The difference here in Northern Ireland is that we need to encourage the youths that race in local mini-moto and pit-bike racing that they can come and have a go at national racing from the age of 12.”

The Academy has chosen to support 12-year-old Alexander Rowan from Dromore in Co. Down, who will receive a new Tianda TDR 300 machine to compete in the Moto One class at the Ulster Superbike and Mondello Masters Series events. Rowan and four other young hopefuls will also receive free entries to all MCRRCI meetings.

Rowan had a fantastic season in 2019 as he won 15 races from 15 starts in the MMRCI Pit-Bike 125cc Championship.

He was also the Ulster and Irish Champion in the Irish Minibike series (Junior Gearbox Pro Class) and finished sixth in the Young Guns class in the Ulster Superbike Championship on an Aprilia RS125, earning podiums at Kirkistown.

He will also receive an Academy race suit supplied by Forrest Chen at First Choice gear; an Arai Helmet, boots and gloves by Ernie Coates Race support and IFS Global Logistics support.

The delighted schoolboy said: “I’m really excited to have been selected to represent the Team Wood Motorcycle Youth Academy in 2020 on a brand new 300 Tianda.

“Everyone at Team Rowan would like to thank the Academy for the opportunity to ride for their team.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity and a great privilege to represent and to be associated with the prestigious David Wood name, who has done so much for our sport over the decades.

“I would also like to thank everyone at the MCRRCI and especially Mark Sanlon for this opportunity.”

The other four Academy competitors are Martin Burnett (15) from Glengormley; Kai McClintock (13) from Ballymena; Robert Ronan (13) from Co. Dublin and Lee Hara (13) from Coleraine.