BIG KIDS & LITTLE KIDS

Story by Boris

Pictures by Suzii and Martin

"I shall ride like the wind...and if I don't win, you burn this night, bastard yellow motorcycle!"

BIKE ME! made a new mate the other day. His name is Paul Edwards and he's one of the men behind what I've come to understand is the future of Australian motorcycle racing.


Paul Edwards doesn't always drink rye whisky in the morning. He only does it when he's racing	"Where are the motorcycles? You promised me there'd be motorcycles..."

This future manifests itself as the Motorcycle Road Race Development Association (MRRDA) and it is the single most important development in Australian bike racing in living memory.

This is Avalon Biddle. She came all the way from New Zealand to ride faster than 75 percent of the boys. She is 14 years old and absolute sweetheart of a child.

Basically, it's a series of races which kids from the age of 13 can compete in, astride mechanically similar Honda 150RRs, egged on by highly committed parents.

"I guess I'm going to have to go out there eventually and... erm, race and stuff..."

In addition, the kids are schooled in dealing with the media (very wise), encouraged to be sportsmanlike and not chuck tanties in the pits (certain world-class racers could also have benefited from this) and are awarded points for their behaviour as well as their performance on the track.

"Go on, laugh. But when I come around you on the outside and you shit yourself, who'll be the funny man then?"