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.
Gus Rodio
Age: 17.
Current home: Hammonton, New Jersey.
Current height/weight: 5’9”/130 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding motorcycles at age: 3.5 years.
First road race: 2015, Millville, New Jersey, NJMiniGP, Spec 50, 8th Place.
Current racebikes: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Aprilia RS 660, Husqvarna FS 450.
Current tuners/mechanics: Kevin Rodio (father), Artie Meeker, Frank Angel, Mike Marthaler.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup & Twins Cup.
Top Sponsors: Rodio Racing, Evolve GT, N2, Spellcaster Productions, HJC Helmets, Moto-Liberty RS Taichi, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Kathedral, Spears Racing, K-Tech, Orient Express, VNM Sport, Red Mist Racing, MAR Contractors,
Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, finished 3rd in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (1 win, 3 total podium finishes), won 4 CCS National Championships (ThunderBike, Lightweight SuperBike, Lightweight SuperSport, Lightweight Grand Prix), placed 2nd in CCS Atlantic Overall Regional Championship; 2020 season, placed 11th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (5 top-five finished in the first 7 races); 2019 season, 3 top-10 finishes in MotoAmerica Junior Cup; won 9 CCS regional and track Championships, won NJMiniGP: Supermini Championship; 2018 season, 10 podium finishes with CCS, won 2 Motogladiator Championship (SS300, SB300), won 3 NJMiniGP Championships.
2022 racing goals: Win double MotoAmerica Championships in Junior Cup and Twins Cup.
Racing career goal: Win a World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Road America.
Favorite hobby: Supermoto.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Bored.
