24th-Annual Roadracing World Young Gun Honors:
By David Swarts
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 24th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
AMA Pro races and Championships, including eight AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (8 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 11 and 18 (as of the start of the 2020 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships on a 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke or larger racebike 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.
Cory Ventura
Age: 18.
Current home: Union City, California.
Current height/weight: 5’7”/125 pounds.
Current school grade level: 12th grade.
Began riding at age: 8 years.
First road race: 2015, Willows, California, AFM, 350cc Prod. Novice, 1st place.
Current racebike: Yamaha YZF-R6.
Current tuner/mechanic: Chris Ventura (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: CV28 Racing, One6Sport, Bell Powersports, Evol Technology, Felt Bicycles, Shimano, Motion Pro.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2019 season, placed 12th in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (5 top-10 finishes); 2018 season, attended VR46 Riders Academy, finished 2nd in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (1 win, 8 podiums); 2017 season, placed 2nd in MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship (4 wins, 9 podiums), took 5th overall at KTM RC Cup World Final (race finishes of 5th and 6th); 2016 season, placed 12th in MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship (7 top-10 finishes), won 4 AFM races; 2015 season, placed 2nd in AFM 500cc Twins Novice Championship; 2014 season, won MiniMotoUSA Formula Moto Championship.
2020 racing goal: Finish on podium in MotoAmerica Supersport.
Racing career goal: Win the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Racing hero: Cameron Beaubier.
Favorite track: Laguna Seca.
Favorite hobby: Mountain biking.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Concentrating more on school.
