8 Sep 2010

Rising Kiwi road-race star Jake Lewis is on his way to Europe this week.

The teenager is off to Spain to compete in the “Road To Red Bull Rookies Cup” qualification races. The two-day trial is set for September 14-15 at the Monte Blanco circuit near Sevilla, in the south of the country.

For 15-year-old Yamaha rider Lewis, from Rangiora, it is a huge step.

The trial will be difficult and Lewis will have to withstand rigorous scrutiny and testing before he can qualify to race in the Red Bull Rookies Cup series proper.

“I'm so very excited about this and intend give my very best with the fantastic opportunity I have been given,” said Lewis.

The year 11 student at Rangiora High School has been racing just on two years and already he is starting to make an impact in the sport, making his debut in the 125GP class at the nationals this season, racing for Team VB Racing, owned and managed by Hawke’s Bay’s Maarty van Booma.

Lewis has a real racing pedigree too. Jake’s dad, Rob Lewis, was a noted superbike rider in his day and was also a top V8 car racer.

Racing a Yamaha TZ125 in the 125GP class for the first time this season, Jake Lewis finished 12th in the New Zealand Superbike Championships, despite contesting just two of the five rounds and also crashing out of the last race of the series.

The 2010 nationals wrapped up at the new Hampton Downs circuit, near Meremere, in March and he has already vowed to be back to contest the 125GP class again next season.

But, in the meantime, he’s on his way to the big time and potentially a career racing the world’s elite on some of the most famous race tracks in Europe.

“I have to thank a number of great people who have helped me with this, Brian Bernard, Grant and Peter Ramage, Peter Clifford, Maarty van Booma and also a big thanks to my dad,” said Lewis.

“Bob McCleary Yamaha gave me a great deal to update my motocross bike to train on and keep my fitness up, I've got a 2010-model Yamaha YZ250F, which I've now done quite a few hours riding on and have really enjoyed every minute of them.”