2008 CAN-AM PRO GP125 Champion and R.A.C.E. Canadian Regional PRO GP125 Champion Ben Young, at the age of 15, will compete in the USGPRU (United States Grand Prix Race Union) GP125 Championship, being held at top race circuits throughout the USA with RAT Racing. Nova Scotia based RAT Racing scooped up Young after he received the sad news that the 2009 AMA Red Bull Rookies, to which he was accepted, was being pulled from the 2009 calendar. Young was chosen to be a Rookie after he proved his racing skills in front of Kevin Schwantz and the Red Bull officials at testing held at Barbar Motorsport Park, Alabama, in autumn last year. Angus Borland, RAT Racing team manager and owner, has given Young the opportunity to become a major contender for the USGPRU championship. RAT Racing is providing Young with a KRP race prepared Honda RS125 which is being built and flown in specially from the UK by KRP Racing owner Mark Keen. The bike will be prepared and maintained by Ian Brookman, a former KRP mechanic who was also from the UK and now resides in New Jersey, USA. The pro race licence holder, Young from Collingwood, Ont. Canada, completed his rookie USGPRU year in 2008. He finished 5th in the Eastern GP125 Championship and 10th in the National GP125 Championship on his near standard 2006 Honda RS125 and it was the first visit to each circuit as he just moved from Scotland in 2007. Young was asked his thoughts for the coming season. “I am delighted I am going to be a part of the very successful RAT team this year and competing in the USGPRU. I am looking forward to getting back to the racing; it’s a long cold winter here in Canada. The other RAT racers, Adam Roberts and Angus, the owner, both race 250’s; I will be the only 125 rider. Adam won the USGPRU Eastern and National GP250 Championship last year for RAT. We will be aiming for the double; GP125 and GP250 Championships. It will be great to work with Brooky (Ian Brookman) again. I had the opportunity to race with KRP at Croft, England in September 08 at the British GP125 Championship and we got on excellently. I can’t wait!” When the schedule allows, Young will also be competing in the RACE Canadian Regional PRO GP125 Championship and the CAN-AM PRO GP125 Championship held at Shannonville Motorsports Park, Ontario, Canada to defend both his #1 titles. Young’s first outing on the RAT’s KRP Honda will be at round 1 of USGPRU held at Jennings GP, Florida on 4th and 5th of April.