When is it too young to race motorbikes?

[AviatorTom]

Motorbike racing is dangerous. How dangerous is demonstrated by the recent deaths of two 9 year olds.

A 9 year old boy in Brazil fell during practice for a race, was taken to hospital and later died from his injuries.

A 9 year old girl in California collided with another rider during a race and died.

Is this too young to race motorbikes?

The details of these incidents have been intentionally left out, in respect for the grieving families.

[DJB72]

I know some children who were on bikes before they were 5 and racing by 6. I also know a couple of guys my age I wouldn't let ride a bicycle because they'd get killed falling off.

My brother was killed on a bicycle because he turned in front of a car. He was 9.

Kids are going to be kids whatever we do. I had to have this conversation with my mum yesterday. My son is 5 and he's a risk-taker. In a big way. Because of my brother, she panics over every little thing he does. I had to say to her that she must remember he can make some choices himself, and he's going to get hurt. That's his nature.

All we can do is to put our children in situations where the risk is minimised, because they'll find a way to do something stupid. That's being a kid.

I'm surprised someone around the Gen-X age is asking this. We did some really dumb stuff and most of us are here to talk about it...

[OlderAndWiser]

I say they can operate motorbikes when they are 16, but only with parents' consent. Otherwise, at age 18.

[OlderAndWiser]

Thanks, Coach!

[CrazyGirl2]

It obviously depends on the child. If it were MY child, I would say 10 to own a SMALL underpowered dirt bike. But to race, I would say 12 is the youngest I would personally allow. I would never judge a parent who did allow their child to race, or even just ride at a younger age. I once saw a 4yo racing a tiny little dirt bike. He was amazing on that thing. He was doing wheelies and everything! But still, I know I’m going to be an over protective mom, but 12!

Great question.
Laura 🤗 🥰

[purplepoppy]

I don't know the circumstances but I'd imagine health and safety is very strict at events and the speed of the bikes is limited.

But why do I suspect in these cases it wasn't.

[Fireguy17]

no, there are many kids that start out younger than that, especially if the parents race.
There are 14, 15-year-olds driving super late model race cars on the track that are too young to have their driver's license. The road to Indy has 14 year olds, just out of go karts.
All type of motor sports has classes for pre-teens.
In 2022 there were 30 bicycle deaths in the age 13 and younger, yet kids still ride bikes.
Any death, especially children killed for any reason, drugs, cancer, accidents, sports no matter why or what caused the death is always horrific.

[ArrowheadSW]

When I was 12/13 I had a friend who is the same age as me, who was involved with dirtbike racing. He was always breaking bones. Once one bone was healed, he'd get back on it and break another. He was almost always in a cast. His parents should have got him out of it but they were competing to keep him on their side since they were going through divorce.

[AviatorTom]

@ArrowheadSW Sad story... for your friend. Parents who use their children as weapons should be flogged... I've seen too many do that though. Thanks for sharing the story. Maybe it will help someone.

[ArrowheadSW]

Right. The parents really should have got him involved in another sport.

[OfMiceandMen]

I have a cousin that use to race motocross when he was younger and broke so many bones over the years... now he complains every time I see him. I really don't have any empathy for him. Nobody made him get on the bike?

[exitseven]

The parents, should be put in jail for child endangerment. Why not just give them a loaded gun to play with?

[sage2021]

When they are old enough to get a driver's license.

[DishLady]

I'd say before 17/18 because the motor skills aren't fully developed before then... 25 if the person is just goofy.

[NathanDavis]

you're never too young to die in any accident

[MisterWack]

Never too young or too old