Hasting teen rolls on to world stage

With wild card entries to any international race rare and difficult to obtain, the Lincolns' couldn't let the opportunity go by.

Despite coming with an estimated $15,000 price tag it was an offer a young man and his pit crew (his dad) could not refuse: a start in one of the support races for the 14th and final round of the World Superbike Championships being staged at Jerez in Spain next weekend.

"Pretty much said 'yes' straight away," Hastings Boys' High School student and rising motorcycle racer Tyler Lincoln, 15, said of the phone call he and his father, Jason, received about a month ago from Christchurch man Rob Lewis whose son, Jake, is leading the European Junior Cup series.

"It's not really something you can turn down," Mr Lincoln said.

At the time of the call he said to his son: "Mate, we've got to do this. We're going, but I don't know how".

It has turned out to be a case of borrow from friends, the bank and see what sponsors (such as Process Controls, Service Engineers and Whites Powersport) could do for them.

Mr Lincoln said it was lot of money for one race, but that one race was on the world stage and if Tyler were to make a splash, as he has in New Zealand 125cc and Classic racing events, then "you never know".

The call came on the back of Tyler putting in a solid ride in his first international outing last year, as part of the 125cc Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup series staged at Aragon in Spain.

While finishing out of the points, his riding caught the attention of Mr Lewis who figured the Hawke's Bay teen could hold his own in a European Cup Series race so with a couple of places going for the final grid of the year he called the Lincolns.

With wild card entries to any international race rare and difficult to obtain, Mr Lincoln said he couldn't let the opportunity go by.

As well as hastily organise the finances for the trip he also had to approach the principal and dean of Tyler's school to seek their approval for some time off.

"They have been really excellent," he said.

The European Junior Cup series was put together to give up-and-coming riders between the age of 14 and 19 the opportunity to develop their skills on GP circuits in front of the big crowds which turn out for the World Superbike races.

They all ride identical machines - twin-cylinder Honda CBR500s.

As part of the special entry the race bike is transported to the track and set up in a garage area complete with full back-up spares and equipment as well as a hospitality section.

All Tyler has to do is turn up with his pit crew and race.

"I haven't ridden one of those [Honda 500] but I've raced that size bike so I'm not too phased by it. I'll go out and take it as it comes. It's going to be pretty exciting."

He is no stranger to the challenging 4.4km Jerez track.

"I've played it on Xbox and I did all right," he said with a laugh.

"It's fast and flowing with some big sweepers and I like tracks like that."

The pair will catch up with Rob and Jake Lewis for some race and preparation advice, which they will reward them for.

"We're taking them some good Kiwi Marmite and Pineapple Lumps."

Tyler has raced competitively since he was 11, competing in events staged by the local Pacific Motorcycle Club and has rarely been out of the points tables since, picking up race wins and a title aboard a Kawasaki KR150.

Last weekend he took part in a one-hour endurance race aboard his Honda RS125 and finished an impressive fifth and is leading the 500 Clubmans Series where he has been racing club member Pete Lodge's ES2 Norton.

But on October 20, after one free practice and one qualifying practice session at Jerez, he will line up amidst a grid of 30 for the eight-lap race which is being staged between the two World Superbike races.

Just to see the big guns of Superbike racing going for it will be exciting enough, but getting out on that same track will be "something else", the teen says.