Bermudians have always had an affinity for speed.
From building ships that became world renowned for their speed and agility, to creating a culture that made the kid with the best ‘souped up’ Mobylette, Yamaha V50 or Suzuki RC100 a community celebrity – speed has played a big role in our national development.
These days, we are learning to be more responsible with speed. Things like discipline, focus and respect are being instilled in young riders through a very special programme offered by the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Association Youth Academy.
Billy Dunn, vice-president and youth development coordinator of the BMRA, is passionate about racing – and determined to cultivate a strong respect for speed in the young people who attend the Youth Academy.
For Mr Dunn, the Youth Academy is about far more than racing and competition – it’s about building skills, character and opportunity.
The programme welcomes children as young as 5 or 6 and keeps them developing into adulthood. Before they even think about racing lines or lap times, however, young riders must first meet a simple requirement: they need to be able to physically handle the bike.
“We start them from the basics,” Mr Dunn said. “As long as they can manage the bike, we bring them in and build them up step by step.”
The steps are meticulously structured. Riders begin on 110cc four-stroke bikes before progressing through increasingly powerful machines, including 250cc bikes and, eventually, high-performance race bikes. The goal is steady, safe progression, ensuring that each rider develops the skills and confidence needed for the next level.
Life skills
Of course, there is more to racing on an asphalt track than just being able to handle the machine.
“One of the biggest things we focus on is making sure the kids understand everything around the sport,” Mr Dunn expounded. “Not just how to ride, but how the bike works, how to take care of it, and how to communicate with their team.”
Communication is a key focus. On the track, as well as in life, there is rarely a more powerful skill to have than the ability to communicate well. Within a racing team, the relationship between the rider and the mechanic is critical: a rider must be able to describe how the bike feels (what’s working, what isn’t) so that adjustments can be made.
“That ability to communicate clearly is huge,” Mr Dunn said. “It teaches them how to express themselves and work as part of a team.”
Students enrolled in the BMRA Youth Academy are introduced to mechanics, fitness and interpersonal skills that translate far beyond the track.
“We mentor them,” Mr Dunn said. “We teach life skills, health and fitness, and discipline. These are things they can carry with them wherever they go.”
Motorsports are often associated with speed and adrenaline, but behind every fast lap is a high level of control and concentration. According to Mr Dunn, these are among the most important lessons for young riders.
“With motorsports, you’re dealing with high speeds,” he said. “You have to be disciplined. You have to stay focused. Concentration is everything.”
For many young riders, patience is one of the hardest skills to master. The excitement of speed can be tempting, but rushing the learning process can be dangerous.
“Everybody wants to go fast right away,” Mr Dunn said. “But the best riders are the ones who take their time and really learn the fundamentals first.”
It’s a lesson that applies both on and off the track.
See the world through racing
A recent partnership with MIR Racing in Spain has sparked plenty of excitement within the local racing community, because it gives young riders access to professionally designed training bikes, as well as a potential pathway to train and compete overseas.
BMRA students who show exceptional promise may now travel to Europe, including Spain and Italy, widely regarded as the epicentres of elite motorcycle racing.
“These are the places where top riders are developed,” Mr Dunn said. “Now our kids have the chance to be part of that system.”
This link also brings credibility to the local programme and aligns Bermuda’s development pathway with internationally recognised standards.
These strides have resulted in growing interest in the Youth Academy, which had to turn away candidates in its first year, because there were only seven bikes. Now the resources and access are expanding, so growing numbers of riders can come aboard – and they are quite enthusiastic!
“The response has been great,” Mr Dunn exclaimed. “It’s growing faster than we expected!”
Among the current group are several young riders already showing significant potential. While still early in their development, their progress suggests a promising future for Bermudian motorsports.
The BMRA’s long-term vision extends far beyond individual success stories. They want to build a sustainable motorsports ecosystem – one that includes not only riders, but also mechanics, engineers and team managers.
“We want to teach them how to run a race team,” Mr Dunn said. “Not just ride, but everything that goes into it.”
A school-based initiative has started at the Berkeley Institute and aims to expand to other schools soon. The Motorcycle Safety and Racing Club has garnered a great response from students, with 16 showing up to the first session.
Ultimately, Mr Dunn wants to start an endurance racing competition within the schools, which would enable students to participate in different aspects of the sport. Some may choose to focus on riding, while others may gravitate toward mechanics, communications or team management.
“It gives everyone a role,” Dunn explains. “Not every kid wants to ride, but they still want to be involved. This gives them that opportunity.”
The BMRA Youth Academy programme will be showcasing some of their young riders at Motor Fest on June 28, and – who knows? – maybe some of the kids we see riding now will one day reach the top of the world MotoGP rankings.
That’s what Billy Dunn wants to see.
“Within my lifetime,” he says, “I’d like to see at least five Bermudian riders reach the top level of racing.”
The BMRA is currently making all the right moves to realise this special vision.
