Talented teen Taylor secures a Super move

The Kidderminster youngster, aged 13, will make the step up from Thundersport GB action into the main BSB calendar after impressing during his debut season.

Taylor will be racing in the RaceCraft Rider Development Junior Team, run by Charlie Hall, in the British Junior Supersport series for 2019.

Proud father Jason said: “Ben will be moving onto the big stage on a bigger bike.

“When it comes to national junior motorcycle racing, it doesn’t get much bigger than racing within the British Superbikes championship support classes, where you are watched by tens of thousands of people nationwide.

“With this in mind, we would also like to take this opportunity to put a call out for anyone who would like to sponsor Ben to get in touch.”

Ben caught the racing bug early and immediately set his sights on becoming a professional.

He attended the Scott Redding Academy in 2015, aged nine, and then moved into Mini Motos.

Ben then got asked to go to a meeting with the FAB Racing championship and the following November his family bought him an Ohvale GP-0 110cc, which is an Italian manufacturer.

Ben, who attends King Charles School in Kidderminster, first entered the British Mini Bike Championship in 2017 and was asked to try out for the inaugural British Talent Cup in the August, and again in 2018.

Despite failing to make the top 20 on both occasions, he competed in the Superteens series of the Thundersport GB championship last year.

And despite being the one of the youngest on the grid, he came second in the Aprilla 125cc class.

Jason had said 2018 would just be all about learning the new circuits and getting to grips with his more powerful 125cc machine.

But after just one season he will again be making a substantial step up in class once more after entering the British Junior Supersport series, riding a Kawasaki Ninja 400cc.

Ben, who classes his hero as MotoGP Spanish star Marc Marquez, has also been receiving tips and mentoring from racer Ben Currie.

He will now be on the same grid – albeit in a different class – with Currie, who last year finished second in the main British Supersport series.

Next year, Currie will be lining up alongside Glenn Irwin in the main BSB series for 2019 for The JGSpeedfit Kawasaki team.

Team boss Hall said: “I‘m very passionate about developing young talent and believe this will create another feeder system for the best youngsters moving up from the minibikes championships.

“The Racecraft Junior Team will be a supportive environment for rider and parent alike. It’s fun and low pressure with all the mentoring and experience I can offer.

“I’m very pleased to confirm my riders for 2019 will be Ben Taylor and Alessandro Valente, who are both 13.

“I look forward to working with and believe have the dedication and attributes to achieve success. Is it April yet?”

Jason added: “We’re always looking for more sponsorship and support in any form.

“We’d like to thank Geartech the gearbox specialists, Matt Gilbert at Bikes ‘n’ Sport, DC Speedshop, Spectrum Interiors, Hideout Leathers Motul and Sbxtreme.”

To sponsor Ben during his British Junior Supersport camapign in 2019, email Jason on jasontaylor75@hotmail.co.uk