Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 26th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 11 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (11 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2022 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Kristian Daniel, Jr.
Age: 13.
Current home: Barcelona, Spain.
Current height/weight: 5’2/103 pounds.
Current school grade level: 8th grade.
Began riding at age: 6 years.
First road race: 2015, Apple Valley, California, M1GP, Terminator 50cc Class, 2nd place.
Current racebike: Honda NSF250R.
Current tuner/mechanic: IgaX Team.
Primary race series: European Talent Cup.
Top sponsors: Vanel Design, Kabuto, Mithos, 111 Management, Noyes Camp, VNM Sport, Brografic, FuSport Boots, Rainers.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, youngest full-time rider in European Talent Cup, best race finish was 28th at Valencia; 2020 season, placed 4th in Cuna de Campeones Moto5 Championship in Spain (1 win, 2 total podiums); 2019 season, placed 4th in Spanish Cuna de Campeones MiniGP 110 Championship (2 podium finishes).
2022 racing goal: Finish in the points in the FIM CEV European Talent Cup.
Racing career goal: Make it to MotoGP.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Jerez.
Favorite hobby: Watching Anime, playing Roblox.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: A professional football or basketball player.
