Anyone who has followed motorcycle racing for any length of time may still be shocked to learn that Moto3 drivers born as recently as 2000 are starting to hit the tracks in significant numbers.
For drivers that young to be racing at world championship level almost requires some level of disbelief, but riders such as Raul Fernandez of Spain, Tim Georgi of Germany, Rei Sato of Japan and Auymu Sasaki, also of Japan, are still years away from needing to shave regularly, but are piloting high-powered racing bikes at high speeds through turns at such severe angles that it is hard to understand how they can remain on their wheels.
Jorge Lorenzo, now a world champion five times over rode in his first race the day after his 15th birthday. He missed practice on the Friday before the race because he was still technically 14 years old. Scott Redding from England was the youngest to win a world championship race when he won in 2008 at the age of 15 years and 170 days.
The combination of lightning quick reflexes and an inability to comprehend mortality are what makes young riders so effective at racing motorcycles, but new rules, although a bit flexible, mandate a minimum ages of 16 years in order to take part in a championship race.
