News 4 Mar 2022

Stage set for MiniGP opener at Port Melbourne

Exciting new Australian 'Road to MotoGP' commences this weekend.

Image: Foremost Media.

The stage is set at Port Melbourne for the inaugural round of the 2022 FIM MiniGP Australia Series this weekend, where a host of domestic young talent will begin vying for a sought-after spot in the world final.

MiniGP riders will compete on Ohvale GP-0 160cc four-speeds, all bikes having sealed engined with no modifications and riders receiving a maximum two sets of Pirelli tyres per round.

Confirmed competitors in the FIM MiniGP Australia Series include Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) points-leader Harrison Watts, New Zealand’s Nixon Frost and fast-female Ella McCausland.

Part of the ever-evolving ‘Road to MotoGP’ platform, the FIM MiniGP Australia Series is the latest addition to the FIM MiniGP World Series, where riders aged 10 until the end of the year they reach 14 compete on Ohvales across a five-round series.

The winner is given the opportunity to compete at the FIM MiniGP World Series Final during the week of the last round of the MotoGP World Championship, where the rider that emerges victorious is granted a spot in one of the Road to MotoGP programs – such include the Asia Talent Cup and the Red Bull Rookies Cup.

Current Australian Superbike champion Wayne Maxwell has been a key driving force behind bringing the series to Australia, investing many hours into networking, coaching, importing and distributing Ohvale to make the upcoming championship possible.

“For me, obviously we rode at a young age and what it did for our careers being able to start that bit earlier, and for these kids to be able to start four years earlier than we could start, I think it’s going to be fantastic,” Maxwell told CycleOnline.

“It’s been a series where it’s the same as 21 other countries, it’s pretty cool – same tyres, sealed engines on tracks where it’s not all about slipstream. It’s about skill and cornering, it’s really going to show and is another great initiative with Dorna and MotoGP with what they have done.”

Racing isn’t limited to the MiniGP championship this weekend at the Melbourne International EV Karting Complex, with support classes including Ohvale GP-2 Open – 12-inch (14 years-plus), Ohvale GP-0 Open – 10-inch (14 years-plus), Mini Motard/Grom/Z125 Open (16 years-plus) and a Veterans Class GP-2/GP-0 (35 years-plus).

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