For 14-year-old Max Stauffer, it is the adrenaline that comes with hurling around the track that keeps him so passionate about his sport.
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And this week the Mulbring motorcycling prodigy has headed to India to show off his skills in the 2018 FIM Asia Cup of Road Racing.
Max flew out to New Delhi to compete against some of the best riders the Australasian region has to offer, a rare opportunity for someone so young.
He was selected after a string of performances throughout 2018.
“Throughout the year I feel I have been progressing more and more with every race meeting, getting more and more wins,” Max explained.
“Motorcycling Australia presented me with an opportunity to go over to India and race, which is pretty exciting.”
Max, who made the switch to road racing two years ago, had previously dominated in the junior dirtbike scene, winning the seven-to-10 years 85cc four-stroke event at the NSW junior dirt track championships in 2013.
He also earned an Australian and NSW junior long track title as well as Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club’s perpetual trophy for the highest pointscorer.
Max’s dad Jamie, himself a two-time Australian Superbike champion, said that something had ‘clicked’ with Max over the past 12 months and that he had come along in leaps and bounds on the track.
“He’s been doing really well,” Mr Stauffer said.
“Halfway through this year Max made a really big step forward and has come along in leaps and bounds.
“Something just seems to have clicked in his head.
“It’s a fantastic experience to get over to another country, to race, especially at such a young age.
“As I understand it he will race against two riders from each country in the Australasian scene coming from all parts of Asia.”
Max, who is definitely following in his father’s footsteps, added that it was the feeling of winning that keeps him passionate about the sport.
“This is my second year road racing and I just love the adrenaline that comes with it,” he said.
“Also the drive to win inspires me to just keep going.”
Looking ahead to the future, there is little doubt where Max wants to end up.
“In ten years time I want to be racing in the Moto GP and winning there.”
“In ten years time I want to be racing in the Moto GP and winning there.
- Max Stauffer
