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.
Sean Dylan Kelly
Age: 18.
Current home: Hollywood, Florida.
Current height/weight: 5’10”/145 pounds.
Current school grade level: 12th grade.
Began riding at age: 5 years.
First road race: 2008, Florida, FLAMRA, Minis, 3rd place.
Current racebike: Suzuki GSX-R600.
Current tuner/mechanic: Jeremy Toye.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: M4 Performance Exhaust, ECSTAR, Suzuki, Arai, RST, Hotbodies, Shorai, Vortex, EK Chains, R&G, Venhill, SportbikeTrackGear.com, Hagerty, TechSpec, Fresh N’ Lean.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, finished runner-up in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (5 wins and 16 podiums in 18 races); 2019 season, finished 4th in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (2 wins, 7 podium finishes), youngest rider ever to earn pole position for Daytona 200, finished 2nd in Daytona 200, qualified 27th for Moto2 World Championship race at Valencia (DNF race); 2018 season, won ASRA Team Challenge race during Race of Champions at Daytona, placed 10th in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Championship (best race finish was 6th at Assen); 2017 season, finished 17th in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Championship (best race finish was 7th – twice); 2016 season, placed 22nd in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (best race finish was 13th); 2015 season, placed 2nd in KTM RC Cup World Final (1 win, 2 podiums), won the Mexican KTM RC Cup Championship.
2021 racing goal: Win the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goal: Be MotoGP World Champion.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite tracks: Valencia, Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Favorite hobby: Outdoor activities.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Pursuing a career in business.
