The way to go for young riders seeking cost effective and fair competition - Your chance to try the bikes before the start of the season!

The National Junior Cup moves into its second season with support again from BSB and Kawasaki. The Series will feature at two of the BSB rounds and seven at BMCRC taking in some of the best circuits in the Uk – Brands, Cadwell, Donington, Oulton and Snetterton 300 amongst them.

The new road-going 300 machine from Kawasaki has been introduced to provide a product appropriate for the new licencing legislation in the UK and Europe. The prospect of the bike being adapted for road racing that would be governed by rules limiting output to 35bhp was discussed at length at the ACU Road Race Committee meetings at the end of 2012 and approved for use by 13-18yr olds in the UK Series, unanimously. The race weight was stated as just over 140Kg (it’s 142), giving a power to weight ratio of 2.45. The Aprilia RS125 that can run alongside NJC at Bemsee rounds has the same p-w rating, around 121kg and 30 bhp giving 2.47. Both run above the rating designated for the roads in Europe and that was part of the Road Race Committee’s consideration when considering the proposals from BMCRC regarding the new 300 bike. The existing 250’s have also been refreshed to match the same characteristics, resulting in the majority of 2012 riders continuing in the Series.....

The 2013 Series is based on last season’s Kawasaki Ninja 250 running alongside the new Ninja 300 machines - reliable four-stroke technology that’s here – available now - and has a proven race pedigree. The 250’s have undergone a full engine refresh and rebuild to incorporate components from the new 300 engine. The power output of the 250’s now perfectly matches the dyno runs of the 300. This has given riders from 2012 an easy decision to continue in the Championship, which many are doing. Some of the 2102 bikes have been sold onto new entrants and some are choosing to go for the new 300. So the bikes have achieved a good re-sale value, despite some suggesting these were a one-season machine. Importantly, these are four-strokes, so the technology is what we are seeing and will be seeing in the National and International Championships going forward. Otherwise the choice is two-stroke technology that has little future and little resale value for parents at the grass-roots of racing – where the Champions of the future will come from....

At £3999+vat, race-ready, and probably more importantly, race-competitive (no engine tuning required) the new 300 machine is a bargain for new entrants to racing. This coupled with exposure at BSB, a full spares facility available at every meeting and technical guidance and advice on-hand at all times, makes the Series a perfect package for riders and parents alike. The ACU approved these bikes to be rated to 37bhp (our rules cap them at 35) and they can be ridden by Novice Licence holders from 13 years onwards (18 years is the upper age limit in this Series)

In 2012 the Series delivered great racing with some thrills and a few spills. We found the bikes coped well with all that was thrown at them, they crash well and repairs were easy and affordable. Despite suggestions that these bikes are inappropriate there are many in the NJC paddock who would disagree…..

A Series of this type has to be built on some key elements, all of which have been proven in 2012 –

• Affordability – The basic price of the machines has delivered an ideal race spec bike that has held a good resale value for teams who have chosen to sell their bikes and move to other classes. Entry fees and tyres have been the only extra elements, all of which have been competitive.
• Reliability – The engines are bullet-proof, there’s been no engine failures in 2012, all parents have needed to do is change the oil and replace the odd lever or fairing panel.
• Fairness – BMCRC has reacted to any issues raised by parents quickly & positively. The quality of policing of the Series has been exemplary, both at BMCRC and BSB. The fairness of the Series is grounded by each race engine being sealed before supply, including the refurbished units from 2012, along with a seal on the electrical IC units on each bike. There are no modifications that can be done on these bikes that can evade detection.
• Competition – the performance of each bike is the same as the next. It’s the rider that will make the difference in this Series and the best of them will win out.
• Advocacy- we invite parents to ask to speak about any aspect of the Series to our existing customers, don’t just take our word for it, don’t just listen to others – ask those who really know – those who have experienced the NJC for themselves. Just ask, we will put you in touch with other riders and parents.
• Mentoring & Training –BMCRC meetings have Friday testdays, we offer a cohort of experienced ACU Club Coaches who are available for mentoring and coaching of our younger riders. This is all part of an extensive Rookie rider package offered at the Club.

To find out more about the National Junior Cup for 2013, how to find a second hand bike, how to get hold of the new race 300 – email mikedommett@hotmail and request an info pack for the 2013 Series.

Both the rebuilt 250 and the new 300 will be available for “Try Before You Buy” rides at the BMCRC Race School at Brands Hatch on 24^th February, you just need to have your ACU Race Licence for 2013 sorted, or in process and you can get that trial ride for free! Again contact us for further details and to book that opportunity.

Both bikes will also be on show at the Kawasaki Stand at the London Motorcycle Show, Excel 15-17 February.

The National Junior Cup 2013 – Fair, affordable, reliable & competitive – come and join the youth racing scene of the future – that’s here now.

 Feature article in Motorcycle Racer Magasine:  Mason Law - National Junior Cup Champion 2012

National Junior Cup 2013........

So you’ve cut your teeth in MiniMoto, Junior SuperMoto, Junior MotoCross or done some circuit racing already and want to move onto your next step in Road Racing on the Big Circuits? If you’re 13-18 years old on January 1^st 2013 then the National Junior Cup at BMCRC and BSB is made for you. You’ll have the chance to race in a Championship that takes you to the Big Circuits at Snetterton, Oulton Park, Cadwell and Donington and compete in front of the Big Crowds at selected rounds at British Superbikes. The National Junior Cup is where you’ll get all the support and guidance you’ll need…if you are a novice rider, we will help you get your ACU Race Licence sorted out…there’s a race school for you in February at Brands Hatch…you’ll be allocated one of our trained ACU Club Coaches for the season and there’s fantastic prizes on offer for the top performers from our series sponsors. Your bike would be supplied via a Kawasaki dealer…

basic cost is £3999.00 + VAT

all with sealed engines, they are carefully checked after each race by our trained Technical Officials so there’s no Technical Infringements and everything is fair. This makes sure the good riders can stand out and many who’ve have started at BMCRC have on gone onto greatness… Casey Stoner, Cal Crutchlow, Chaz Davies, Danny Webb, Danny Buchan and the British Superbike Champion, Tommy Hill. Take your chance to join that select band and contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register your interest for 2013, we’ll send you a detailed info pack.

Mums & Dads…your questions answered.
Over the years we’ve learnt a thing or two about what’s important not just to the riders but just as importantly, you the parents. Most is covered by the following: Care & Safety, fairness of competition, costs and support, mentoring and progression…
Care & Safety

• All the Officials that directly oversee the riders are vetted in line with current Child Protection Legislation.
• Our Medical Services provision at meetings that includes Doctors, Paramedics and support vehicles has the deserved reputation as being the best equipped and most experienced team in UK Club and National level racing.
• Our Director in charge of rider development will ensure that each new rider is placed under the wing of a qualified ACU Club Coach to ensure they receive experienced guidance throughout their season. We also “buddy” each new rider with a more experienced one in the paddock, so they also have a peer to talk to.

Fairness

• You will spend a lot of time, money and effort supporting your rider over the season. We are very aware that all teams (riders & parents) need to be reassured that there’s no one going to walk away with the title by just throwing money at high level bike preparation that’s outside the rules.
• This was our prime motivation for establishing the National Junior Cup in conjunction with Kawasaki. The bikes will all be supplied to teams via a Kawasaki dealer, the engines will be sealed. This is the only factory supported series for young riders of its type in the UK.
• The BMCRC and BSB Technical teams at each meeting feature an extensive group of highly experienced technical inspectors. The Class has its own dedicated Technical Officer, supported on racedays by the whole department. The team has unfettered access to a dynomometer at each meeting.
• Rule infringements are always dealt with effectively, with a focus on fairness. This attitude extends through the Technical area to our Clerks of the Course and our Customer Service staff in the Race Office.
• The quality and depth of “policing” of this and all classes sets BMCRC apart from many other clubs.

Costs & Support

• Entry fees remain as competitive as possible. The costs associated to preparing the bike are also being kept at a competitive level. Full details available on request.
• The bikes are 300cc twin, 4-strokes (or the 250cc machine that’s run in the series this year, some are available second-hand from this seasons competitors, please ask about this option). There are no re-builds to consider on engines between meetings with these bikes, a blessing for most parents.
• The paddock always has dedicated support services for all the bits and pieces you may need over a weekend, including tyre supply and changing. There’s also a stock of spares, if required available at each meeting.
• Prize support is important and our relationship with Kawasaki and BSB has enabled us to offer an outstanding Series prize to the Championship winner…

Kawasaki UK will assist the winner of the Championship with a support package for the 2014 season in a class of the riders choice. This package will consist of financial support against a bike & parts package.

Mentoring & Progression

• The Club runs a Race School at Brands in February; here riders are introduced to many aspects of race meetings, including practicing starts. New riders can go through the ACU’s required CTC Course and complete all their Race Licence forms and applications.

• Our Rookie Rider Support Programme helps every new rider in the Club to develop at their own pace. Testdays are available to every member on the Fridays before most meetings, you can practice and test whether you or your Class is racing on the weekend or not. Bemsee provides one of the very few on-track test environments available to U-16’s in the country.
• We allocate Club Coaches to guide new riders, overseen by our Director of Rider Development. All highly experienced current or ex-riders themselves.