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.
Nate Minster
Age: 18.
Current home: Oak Grove, Minnesota.
Current height/weight: 6’0”/145 pounds.
Current school grade level: 12th.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2014, CCS, Blackhawk Farms, Rookies Cup, 2nd place.
Current racebike: Yamaha YZF-R6.
Current tuner/mechanic: TSE Racing.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: TSE Racing, Öhlins, Shoei, Killebrew Rootbeer, AC&P, Larsons Cycle.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, placed 7th in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (4 top-5 finishes); 2019 season, won 5 CCS Midwest Regional Championships.
2021 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica Supersport races.
Racing career goal: Get picked up by a factory team.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Road America.
Favorite hobby: Playing ice hockey.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Playing ice hockey.
