Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 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 2021 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: 12
Current home: Barcelona, Spain.
Current height/weight: 4’7”/77 pounds.
Current school/grade: 7th grade.
Began riding at age: 6 years.
First road race: 2015, Apple Valley, California, M1GP, Terminator 50cc, 2nd place.
Current racebike: Honda NSF250R.
Current tuner/mechanic: AGR Team.
Primary race series: FIM CEV European Talent Cup.
Top sponsors: Vanel Design, Kabuto, RiderzLaw, Noyes Camp, 111 Management.
Recent racing accomplishments (so far): 2020 season, places 4th in Spanish Moto5 Championship (1 win, 2 total podiums); 2019 season, placed 4th in Spanish Cuna de Campeones MiniGP 110 (2 podium finishes).
2021 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: Motorland Aragon.
Favorite hobby: Watching Anime.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: An anime artist.
