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 26th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 11 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (11 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 2022 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.
Alexander Enriquez
Age: 14.
Current home: Daly City, California.
Current height/weight: 5’4”/100 pounds.
Current school grade level: 8th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2012, Atwater, California, Mini Moto USA, MiniMoto Beginner, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Honda, NSF250R, Kawasaki, Ninja 400, Aprilia RS250SP, Ohvale GP-0 160cc and 190cc.
Current tuner/mechanics: NorCal Cycles and Edmund Enriquez (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Mini Cup, North American Talent Cup, AFM.
Top sponsors: California Mini Grand Prix, Dainese, AGV, Cycle Gear, Catalyst Reaction Suspension Tuning, Galfer USA, NorCal Cycles, Woodcraft Technologies, Motion Pro, Motul.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Race Two at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, won AFM Formula III Championship, placed 2nd in AFM Formula Singles Championship, finished 2nd in WERA West Clubman Expert Championship, took 3rd in WERA West D Superbike Expert Championship, won GP1 and GP2 Supermoto USA Asphalt Mini Championships.
2022 racing goals: Improve my skills, do well in the North America Talent Cup and MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Racing career goal: Become a professional motorcycle racer.
Racing hero: Valentino Rossi.
Favorite track: Adria International Raceway.
Favorite hobby: Skateboarding.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Skating or playing basketball with friends.
