15-year-old Brandon Paasch has signed a contract with AXcess Racing LLC to contest a KTM RC390 Cup bike in the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American KTM Cup bike series.
Paasch, who turned 15 this month, earned two Roadracing World-sponsored wild-card rides in the 2015 MotoAmerica KTM RC390 Cup races at Miller Motorsports Park and at New Jersey Motorsports Park, his first time on the Cup bike, landing on the podium at each of these two tracks
AXcess Racing LLC’s team owner Laura Ellis commented, “Watching Brandon show up on Friday at the Miller rounds, having never sat on the 390 then finish the weekend a close second in the Sunday race, I was impressed.” At NJMP, Brandon ran at the front and earned a third in a wild second race.
Paasch comments, “I couldn’t be more excited about this great opportunity for my first full season of professional racing. I’m looking forward to being part of an amazing team! The obvious goal is to win the championship, but there will be some great competition each weekend. My long term dream has always been to race in the World Championships. I believe this team and this series will be a great stepping stone and learning experience to obtain that goal.”
Racing since the age of five, Paasch is well known for winning the 2014 USGPRU Moto3 and 250 GP Overall National Championships as well as the CCS Moto3 Championship in the Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Regions. In 2015 he podiumed in each race with wild-card entries in the Moriwaki 250 Junior Cup, running with British Superbike at Donington Park, Brands Hatch and Assen.
“I am very excited to be working with two of road racing’s future superstars, Jackson (Blackmon) and Brandon. It’s going to be an awesome season!” says AXcess Racing’s Crew Chief Frank Shockley of Fast Frank Racing.
Team Suspension and Tuning Engineer, David Behrend of Fast Bike Industries says, “All of us at AXcess Racing LLC are proud to support our two promising young riders Brandon and Jackson and look forward to a successful racing season. We encourage everyone to stop by our pits and see what our team can offer them to improve their own riding.”
In addition, AXcess Racing LLC is partnering with MotoAmerica to spotlight young riders in the Mini road racing ranks. Select riders from across the US will be participating in demonstrations in the MotoAmerica paddock. Kids will ride their pint size race bikes in front of their peers and heroes. “This demo with 5-12 year-old kids will give outsiders a clear view of where kids like Brandon cut their teeth. We’re very excited to add this young man to our team. I’ve watched him for years and look forward to working with him in MotoAmerica on the KTM” says Team Principal and Talent Scout, Cam Morehead
The 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship will kick off the KTM RC390 Cup bike series this weekend, April 15-17 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
This year will mark the inaugural season of AXcess Racing LLC operating as a professional road racing team. The team is dedicated to its missions of putting young talent on the track and promoting rider fitness. “Road racers are athletes. They need to prepare themselves for competition with physical fitness designed for this sport. There’s much more to it than training on bicycles and dirt bikes in the off season,” states team owner and physician Laura Ellis. “Our riders follow customized programs to promote optimal athletic performance. Just like players in the NFL and serious triathletes, we use biometrics and a program of nutrition, hydration and physical training to keep our riders in peak performance.”