The training of a teenage champion:Josh Elliott is 13-years-old and is a champion in the making. Conor Twomeylooks at the background and training the young biker is getting.
What were you thinking about when you were 13? Chances are you weren't contemplating stepping on to the world stage in the competitive and glamorous world of motorsports, were you? No, me neither, but then we probably weren't as focused or as naturally gifted as Josh Elliot, a young motorcycle racer from Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh, who is about to embark on his first season of international racing. Although he has only just entered his teen years, he already has four Mini-Moto National Championship titles and a winter series Championship title under his belt.
Following his 13th birthday last June, Josh was finally old enough to move up to the big bike league and start competing in the Irish Clubman's Short Circuit Championship, where his stunning performance in his debut weekend singled him out immediately as one to watch for the future.
Having taken pole by an astonishing 1.43 seconds (despite a brake problem), Elliot took second place in his first race. He was later bumped down to third for entering the pits the wrong way at the end of the race, but then went on to win his second race, while also setting the fastest lap and smashing the newcomer's record by some margin. Heady stuff for a first-timer.
Such was his progress in the North Dublin Motorcycles series that a decision was made to move Josh up to the 125 Grand Prix class. Smaller, faster and better suited to Josh's style, he immediately made a big impression in a field of considerably more experienced riders, taking a fifth and a third at his first Grand Prix 125 race, followed by a fourth and a second at the next meeting.
Josh was then entered for the prestigious Sunflower Trophy race meeting at Bishopscourt. It is a national event where Josh prevailed to be the first Clubman home in each race and demolish the lap record by a second in the process - no mean feat on a bike that's 11-years-old.
Putting in such impressive performances without major backing and the latest technology only served to highlightJosh's immense talent. No wonder pundits were touting him as a "Star of the Future".
Despite his natural skill as a rider and a racer, nobody expected Josh's career to take off as quickly as it has.
In 2008, he takes to the grid in the Red Bull Rookies Championship, a new series that was set up last year to give budding riders the chance to prove their metal on the international stage. Championship winners (and those who have the right temperament and racing attitude, as well as those with a strong sense of team spirit and fair play) advance to the Red Bull MotoGP Academy or, if exceptionally talented, straight into the Red Bull KTM Racing Team, which competes in the 125cc World Championship.
At the academy, riders are groomed for greatness under the direction of Alberto Puig (who discovered Dani Pedrosa) and Austrian motorcycle legend Gustl Auinger. Needless to say, competition was fierce and making the cut for the championship was quite an achievement in itself.
Of the 1,000 or so applicants from 16 different countries, 43 riders were eventually selected and invited to the Paul Ricard in the South of France for two days of final assessment. Josh made the final cut, as did Nicole McAleer from Tyrone and Andrew Murphy from Limerick. It was only then that they discovered that the group wouldn't be whittled down to 23 to replace the riders who competed in the inaugural 2007 season - only 12 new riders were to be selected, as many of the 2007 riders were being retained for the 2008 season, doubling the pressure on the rookie competitors.
To compound matters, conditions were wet and blustery and all of the riders were on unfamiliar bikes on a track they'd never ridden before. However, part of qualifying for such a prestigious series is showing that you can take these things in your stride. "They were extremely difficult conditions . . . [ but] looking back at the early selection events, it is usually the same guys who show their talent," explains Harald Bartol, KTM's race director. "I am sure that we have a group of very talented guys here."
When the final 12 were called out (in no particular order), Elliott's name was the last to be called, much to the delight of Irish contingent and especially his incredulous father Julian, himself a racer of some renown.
Unfortunately, now the hard work of getting the money together to ensure Josh can compete. Although everything is provided for the riders: bikes, clothing, spares, tyres and mechanics, the riders still have to fund their own flights, transport and accommodation, which isn't going to be cheap when you consider the young riders will have to compete in 10 rounds at eight MotoGP circuits around Europe.
In addition there are three pre-season test sessions and two more non-championship races for the 12 fastest riders (versus the 12 best American Red Bull Rookies) at Indianapolis and Valencia, which Elliot hopes to race in.
All of which means that before Elliot even turns 15, he may have already established himself as a world-class racer and be on his way to a very bright future.
Despite the enormity of the task ahead and pressure to succeed, Josh Elliott isn't fazed by being in the spotlight and is taking the whole thing in his stride: "I am going to give it my best shot and enjoy the racing whatever happens."