Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

We’re collecting nominations for the Fifth Annual Roadracing World Young Guns feature, highlighting up-and-coming young road racers from the United States and Canada.

To qualify for the Young Guns feature a racer must be between the ages of 13 and 19, have finished in the top three in a sanctioned road race on a 125cc or larger motorcycle with full-size wheels, and reside within the United States or Canada.

The Roadracing World Young Guns series started as an answer to critics who said America lacked up-and-coming young riders.

Young Gun alumni include AMA stars Nicky Hayden, Tommy Hayden, Michael Hannas and Chris Ulrich, and Young Gun graduates who have gone on to continued success on the regional level include Ryan Burke, Adam Coco, Justin Long, Jonah Miller, Geoff Pestes, Jeremy Saathoff and Ben Walters, Jr.

Returning Young Guns for 2002 include Jason DiSalvo, Roger Lee Hayden, Nathan Hester, Jake Holden, John Hopkins, Kevin Lacombe, Barrett Long, Tony Meiring, Chris Peris, Jason Peters and Ben Spies.

To nominate a youngster for the 2002 Young Guns feature, call Roadracing World headquarters at 909-245-6411 and request a Young Guns questionnaire. The questionnaire must be completed and returned by November 20, 2001 along with an action photo and a head shot suitable for magazine reproduction; all submitted photos must include permission to reproduce, from the photographer. Scans and photocopies of photos are not usable. All photos must have the name of the rider and the photographer on the back, along with applicable additional information such as where and when the photo was taken, including the racetrack and race sanctioning body.

The mailing address is:

Roadracing World
Attn: Young Guns 2002
P.O. Box 1428
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1428

The Federal Express or other overnight delivery address is:
Roadracing World
Attn: Young Guns 2002
581-C Birch St.
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531

The four Young Guns features done to date appeared in the November 1997, March 1999, February 2000 and March 2001 issues and can be seen on this website, www.roadracingworld.com.

If you have any questions, call 909-245-6411 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PDT and ask to speak to David Swarts.