The financial implications fuelling junior bike racing's dangerous aggression

The MotoGP World Championship will close its doors to riders under the age of 18 from 2023. That is the star rule of the new regulations to be implemented from next year by motorcycle racing's top organising bodies the FIM and Dorna, promoter of the MotoGP and World Superbike Championships respectively, following the deaths of three teenagers in FIM-sanctioned events this year.

In addition, the number of riders competing in the junior categories will be reduced, minimum ages will be set and the use of the latest technology in protective equipment will be obligatory. But it's a raft of measures that, while many stakeholders in the sport believe to be right, for others do not tackle the root of the real problem: an excessive increase in the aggressiveness of young riders, who are under pressure to perform.

Many parents of young racers invest large sums of money, some even go as far as taking out loans or mortgaging their homes, so that their children can have the best equipment in top teams in minor championships. And many teams, faced with a lack of results or tempted by the arrival of another family with more potential, put pressure on the rider or threaten to take them off the bike if they do not improve their performance.

We are talking about athletes between 12 and 15 years old having to endure the enormous stress of being told that they need to win if they want to continue on their way to 'El Dorado', which is how they identify the MotoGP category.

Competition anxiety

Pep Font, performance psychologist at the CAR of Sant Cugat defines it as "competition anxiety". It can occur in riders of any age, category and level, but in younger riders it creates "a sense of 'threat'" that can end up interfering with their actions.

"Athletes who compete in disciplines that involve risk or danger have internalised it in such a way that they are not aware of it," explains Font, in a reasoning that is as logical as it is brutal. "If they were, they would no longer be riders. They are much more afraid of not competing at their level or not being able to achieve what they set out to do."

Niccolo Antonelli, Reale Avintia Moto3

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

In the opinion of those involved, the pressure that a young rider suffers from having to achieve results that allow the family investment to be amortised may contribute directly to the increase in the levels of aggressiveness that can be seen in recent times in the lower classes.

"I think there is an obvious direct link," says Font, the psychologist who is working with Raul Fernandez this season and has worked with Jorge Lorenzo, Carlos Checa and many other athletes in the past.

"There is an irrefutable reality: if a father is paying 140,000 euros for his son to race in the FIM-CEV Moto3, if the child does well, maybe the following year he will only pay 50,000. If he doesn't do well, not only will he have to pay the same, but he will also probably do so to race with a less competitive team.

"The main problem if they raise the age is that families who are spending money to get their children into the world championship will have to keep spending it for another year or two. I don't think the problem comes from age" Jorge Martin

"The goal is to go from paying a huge amount of money to end up getting paid to race. In every race, we're gambling that we're going to fall by the wayside. And this is what the rider sees as a 'threat'. And the message from parents and teams to these kids is clear: you have to win no matter what."

To pay or not to pay to race

"If I have a son in the future, I wouldn't mortgage my house for him to race a motorbike. I would buy him a Parcheesi and let him start throwing dice," Tech3 KTM's Iker Lecuona tells Autosport.

The Spaniard is one of those talents who didn't have it easy to make it to the world championship; he moved up to MotoGP at the age of 18 and has now lost his place because KTM wants to give it to another even younger rider, Raul Fernandez.

"I think a lot of parents get out of hand and don't know where the limit is," Lecuona adds. "They think they have a Valentino Rossi or a Marc Marquez at home, and it's not like that. Everyone has their own possibilities and whoever can, gets there. Obviously you need money, but not at the level of risking so much.

"Increasing the minimum age for riders is a way of warning parents to calm down, and teams not to use riders."

Iker Lecuona, KTM Tech3

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

One rider who is well aware of the financial sacrifices that families have to make is Jorge Martin, who came through the Red Bull Rookies Cup (he was champion in 2014) before arriving in the world championship in 2015. Since then, he has been Moto3 champion (2018), won races in Moto2 and also in MotoGP, where he was promoted this year by Pramac and Ducati.

On his way to his current privileged position, on several occasions he has highlighted the vertigo he felt when he was forced to win in order to continue racing.

"There were a couple of moments in my career that either I did well or I went home," he explained in 2018. "When I had to enter the Rookies Cup, I either finished first or I didn't enter. And once I was in, I either won or I stopped racing. All this taught me to work under pressure."

From his experience, Martin therefore sees the problem that can arise for families.

"The main problem if they raise the age is that families who are spending money to get their children into the world championship will have to keep spending it for another year or two," the Ducati rider tells Autosport.

"I don't think the problem comes from age. People like Marquez or Pol Espargaro arrived when they were 15 years old and the crazy things we see now didn't happen. Maybe we should think about other solutions, like a level filter or having achieved certain results to have access. In other words, you have to prove that you are ready."

Martin's experience something similar to what three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo explained when he was at the peak of his career and was asked about pressure.

"I don't feel pressure to win a world championship," he said. "It was pressure when I started in 125cc and I knew that either I did well or I went home..."

Darryn Binder, Petronas Sprinta Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Changes to the figure of stewards

Jorge Viegas, president of the FIM, believes that the announcement of the new measures to be implemented from next year is the best news that could be given.

"We've been working on safety improvements for a long time, it's not that we've just decided to do it now in the heat of the tragedy of the latest fatalities," he said.

"We have to work from the ground up, with the riders, but also with the teams and the parents. Many invest too much money, even mortgaging their homes so that their children can race. That's why we will also intervene, together with Dorna, in the FIM CEV, the Rookies Cup and the Talent Cup, as well as in the World Championship.

"The riders must understand that you can't win at all costs and endanger the lives of others. This is where the stewards will play an important role, as they will be the referees who impose penalties" FIM President Jorge Viegas

"The riders must understand that you can't win at all costs and endanger the lives of others. This is where the stewards will play an important role, as they will be the referees who impose penalties. We are going to prepare them to have the same criteria and apply the same penalties for the same sins. And that they are firm. We will make a lot of changes to make sure that the people who judge are the best."

At a time when KTM has become the manufacturer that best dominates the market for young talent, starting with the Rookies Cup, KTM sporting director Pit Beirer agrees with the need to make changes to improve safety.

PLUS: How KTM has wrestled control of young MotoGP talent from Honda

"It's the right step," he said, before assessing that until 2023, when the countermeasures package comes into force, there will be some cases of younger riders who can arrive earlier by winning promotion cups.

"We can't advocate a minimum age of 18 and then look for loopholes in the regulations to sneak in 16-year-olds," he warned Speedweek.

Beirer agrees that the financial stress young riders are under is at the root of the problem, adding: "Parents of talented young riders are sometimes asked for considerable sums if they want to take their children to a team. They have to pay 300,000 per child to race a grand prix bike [in Moto3].

"That creates a lot of pressure on the riders, as their families may not have as much money and can be ruined if the season is not good. Riders should not be under pressure to buy a place in the world championship at the age of 14 or 15. They should be given a solid basic education, without the need to invest large sums of money."

Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Ajo

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images