The £1 Future Stars Fund
GP Future was approached in January 2008 about a scheme being devised to nurture and develop the inherent talent in the UK bike racing paddocks. Having learned more about how the scheme was intended to run, we were happy to be associated with the concept and have lifted this article directly from the fund's own site. Our thanks to Steve Dunn and Stuart Hibbert for allowing us to promote their scheme on the GP Future site.
The aim of this fund is to give opportunities to Britain’s young talent that will one day see a young British motorcycle racer lift the most coveted title in motorcycle racing; The MotoGP World Championship.
(and fill race track grids the world over with many talented British racers.)
The £1 future stars fund is solely designed to ensure they do have the finance to take the next all important steps. By which time teams and manufacturers alike will be offering them lucrative contracts which in turn would promote the fund further by the successful candidates promoting the very fund that gave them that all important backing.
If everyone who is passionate about motorcycles and motorcycle racing donated just one pound (potentially 10 to 15 million people), it would enable the fund to finance potentially the top 50-100 talented youngsters to experience essential testing and development skills, thus enhancing their ability, ultimately resulting in a full time racing contract.
Other fund raising areas include:
- Adding £1 to the price of a track day which would go directly to the fund.
- £1 on the price of show and race day tickets that would go directly to the fund.
- Potentially we would pursue the option of increasing the price of every new motorcycle sold in the country by one pound.
The fund would be proportionally divided between the prospective candidates, to ensure a level and consistent fairness and so no single candidate received preferential treatment. All the racing clubs in the country would be asked to nominate their five most talented riders for assessment. Successful applicants would receive necessary funds to reach the next step of their career ladder. The aim is to maintain the momentum year on year (by virtue of the continuing additions to the fund as described above). Imagine in 5 years time how many potential stars we might have in the top flight.
We'll keep you posted with any developments.