Scott Redding #45 -Year 2006

In December 2005 immediately after Scott's ride at the Metrakit MiniGP World Final 80cc race, that resulted in yet another win, Scott was invited to test for the MotoGP Academy.   Following this test, on an RS125 Honda, they were so impressed that he was immediately offered a place.   2006 was now indeed going to be a very important year for young Scott.     The MotoGP Academy in Spain is altogether a new league.   Back and forth from the UK to Spain every three weeks on average he has to take part in physical training sessions (running, cycling, gym work etc.), riding supermoto bikes on the dirt to get used to the bike sliding about and improve riding stamina, and, of course, training at the actual circuits to teach bike set up and, with expert advice from ex GP riders on riding style and technique, to better his lap times.

Despite the fact he is just 13 years old, DORNA, the MotoGP organisers and the backing behind the Academy, decided that he should ride in the Spanish National 125cc Championship, the CEV125.    The Championship is just one step below full Grand Prix level and the riding age is normally restricted to a minimum 14 years but the influence of DORNA is such that it was agreed that Scott should ride at a Catalan regional Championship race and, subject to him showing good ability there, he would be allowed to compete in the CEV.

Scott was duly entered in theCatalan Championship on the the Catalan GP circuit just outside Barcelona.    Allowed only to ride a very standard RS125 Honda, not the special bike that he would have to use to be anywhere near competitive in the CEV125, and realising that the worst thing that could happen was a "fall off" Scott rode consistently fast, but safely, to finish in a very creditable 7th place.     This ride persuaded the CEV125 organisers that Scott's ability was well up to him being able to compete in the Championship.

Albacete circuit on the 6th / 7th of May was the first venue for round one of the CEV125 Championship.     With entries greater than the number of possible starters at each round and competitors of a very high standard, qualifying at each round is very important with only the top 35 to 45 (depending on the circuit length) qualifying.   Scott was well able to meet this target finally qualifying 18th.     This qualifying didn't however reflect his true speed as almost immediately, following his usual super quick start, he was up to and holding 6th place where he stayed until lap 12.    On lap 12 Scott ran into a problem he had not previously encountered, his hands went numb. With no feeling to control braking etc, it became dangerous to continue and he pulled in.   All his previous riding in the UK, France and Spain had been over a smaller number of laps and on mostly on shorter circuits and the much longer race brought this problem to light for the first time.   Subsequent medical tests could not give any reason for this happening.

At the second round, on the Jerez GP circuit in the South West of Spain on June 10th / 11th Scott improved his qualifying place to 12th and, once again, from the start was running in the leading group.    On lap nine the hand problem once again hit Scott. Determined to finish he coasted the length of one straight with his hands off the bars and down by his side this, coupled with vigorous shaking, relieved the problem sufficiently for him to carry on.    This manoeuvre cost him many places in the race and he crossed the line at the end of the lap in 18th place but, with inspired riding and producing lap speeds very little off that of the leaders, he pulled back to 10th place by the finish.    Following this round and some research via the internet etc into the possibilities of the cause of the hand problem it was decided to give a high glucose content sports drink a go before the race at the next round.

Back at Albacete for round 3 on July 8th / 9th he once again improved his qualifying with a 9th; one  better than the position he was running in the race when a front end slide that very nearly resulted in a crash dropped him back to 18th.    Very obviously not pleased to be running in this position, and once again producing super quick lap times, he quickly closed on the leaders and finished in 4th place less than one second behind the third place rider.    The hand problem had not completely dissappeared but Scott was able to ride through it, bviously the sports drink had had an effect.

The next round at the  Valencian GP circuit on 2nd / 3rd September proved just how tough this 125 class is in the CEV and how fortunes can change from race to race.    This was brought home when, despite riding as hard as ever,  Scott could only qualify in 14th place, which in his eyes was not good enough.    The race also poved to be difficult as, despite riding as hard ever,  a bike that was not handling as well as usual and the engine going down a bit on power as the race went on, saw him finish in the same position as his qualifying, 14th place.

Round 5, back for a second visit to the Catalan GP circuit and  just over a month later, was again to see Scott struggling with a bike that was suffering from corner chatter and he qualified 21st.    In the race he succeeded in getting into 10th place for a few laps but he gradually dropped back again to finish 17th.    He admitted after that perhaps he should have done better despite the handling problem but perhaps even he forgets that he is still only 13 years old !

The Jerez GP circuit was also due for a second visit one week later for the 6th and last round of the Championship.      This time Scott was totally focused and out to prove his true ability.    Testing in the days leading up to this event had enabled the handling of the Red Bull sponsored MotoGP Academy Honda to be well sorted and , in wet conditions, he was fastest in the first qualifying.     Second qualifying proved the first was no fluke when he qualified second in damp conditions.    Race day morning warm up saw him fourth quickest, again in damp conditions.    His second place overall qualifying gave him an excellent chance to be away from the race start well to the front.    The circuit was damp but drying at the start of the race and GP riders Esteve Rabat and Mike di Meglio took advantage of their greater experience of these conditions and quickly pulled away from the rest of the field.   Scott had not been able to get in very quick first laps and was running in fifth, but as the circuit continued to dry he quickened his pace to finally get to second place behind Rabat, Mike di Meglio had fallen earlier, and  ahead of fellow Academy rider Jonas Folger.    Unfortunately they came up to lap slower riders in the closing laps of the race and Scott chose the wrong side to overtake and lost his place to Jonas and came home third.     Still it was a rostrum place and a great finish to the season.

Also during the year Scott had been riding in the UK, when there was time, and his rides at the Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, and Pembrey circuits riding a very standard RS125 Honda resulted in wins in every race ridden; with a new lap record set at Pembrey.    This illustrates of the gap between the UK and Spain in standard of riding, something that FAB-Racing, currently and previously helping with Scott's career, are working to address.

The Story Continues ....

SCOTT HAS ADAPTED QUICKLY TO RIDING THE MotoGP ACADEMY RED BULL SPONSORED HONDA 125 & SHOWS PROMISE FOR A ROSTRUM PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON

IN ROUND 3 OF THE CEV125 SERIES SCOTT FINISHED A FANTASTIC 4th AND, AS THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWS, WAS CLOSING ON THE LEADERS AT FINISH OF THE RACE.

AS THE SEASON PROGRESSED SCOTT HAD MIXED FORTUNES IN HIS RACES BUT WAS FINALLY REWARDED WITH A ROSTRUM PLACE AT THE LAST ROUND IN JEREZ .....

ON THE LIMIT IN THE WET TO QUALIFY 1st IN THE SESSION AT JEREZ.   SECOND QUALIFYING WAS IN DAMP CONDITIONS AND SCOTT WAS 2ND FASTEST.

RUNNING IN SECOND PLACE IN THE CLOSING STAGES OF THE RACE.   A BAD DECISION OVERTAKING A BACK MARKER LOST HIM THE PLACE DROPPING TO 3rd IN THE CLOSING LAPS.