Dave Thorpe, a three-time world 500cc champion, has hand-picked seven stars of the future who have been invited to the very first Red Bull Elite Youth Academy day. To be staged at Apex Motocross on Tuesday, the session will be personally overseen by DT with extra tuition provided by reigning Red Bull Pro Nationals MX2 champion Elliott Banks-Browne.

Dave’s magnificent seven are Tom Grimshaw, Rossi Beard, Scott Russell, Christopher Mills, Callum Gasson, Jack Scott and Jack Wankling who will all benefit from intensive on-bike training as well as tips on presentation and advice on how to be media savvy.

“I can’t believe that Dave Thorpe is going to be training me,” says 11-year-old Jack Scott from Wandon Green, near Luton. “Red Bull are giving me an amazing opportunity and it’s one I’m going to make the most of.”

The Red Bull Elite Youth Academy mission is a simple one – take the country’s best up-and-coming racers, lay on expert instruction and advice and nurture them with the aim of helping to give wings to the next generation of top-flight racers.

“It’s a passion I share with Red Bull,” explains Dave. “As a nation we haven’t produced a world champion since 2001 and it’s not for lack of talent. These young guys have raw talent by the bucketful but they need to be developed, honed and given direction. And that’s my job.

“Other countries are switched on to this – just look at the French – and we need to be too. It’s not just a great opportunity for the kids – it’s a chance for me to do something I care deeply about.”

Following next week’s launch date the Red Bull Elite Youth Academy heads to Cusses Gorse on July 31 with a date for Small and Big Wheel 85cc riders. Then it’s on to Tonymoto on August 16 where the country’s most promising Big Wheel 85cc riders will receive instruction alongside our best Rookie racers before signing off with a specially selected group drawn from all four classes at GP star Jake Nicholls’ private track at his home on the outskirts of Ipswich on August 21.

“We’ve been planning this for a long time,” adds Matt Bates, Managing Director of Red Bull Elite Youth Cup promoters Events 22, “and I’m genuinely excited that it’s finally getting under way. This is just the beginning of something that’s going to grow and grow from one year to the next – the rest of the motocross-racing world won’t know what hit it!”