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 28th 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 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
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 2024 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.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Chase Black
Age: 17.
Current home: Round Rock, Texas.
Current height/weight: 5’10″/150 pounds.
Current school grade level: 11th grade.
Began riding at age: 2.5 years.
First road race: 2017, Katy, Texas, Texas Mini Grand Prix, 12 & Under, 3rd place.
Current racebike: Ducati Panigale V2.
Current tuners/mechanics: Josh Newby, Jordan Rhodes, Dennis Black (father), Glenn Miller.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: International Power Services, International Turbine Services, Superbike Unlimited, Ducati Austin, The Cup Cake Guys, Michael Griffin, Spears Racing, RideSmart, RideNow PowerSports, Evol Technology, Oilcheck Racing, Drippin’ Wet, Bison, Arai Americas, Actions on Purpose, GoPro, Ogio.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, placed 15th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (2 top-five finishes), 2 race wins with CMRA; 2022 season, placed 9th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (12 top-10 finishes, best race finish was 5th); 2021 season, placed 15th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (4 top-10 finishes, best race result was 8th), finished 2nd in CMRA 500 GP Expert Championship (3 wins); 2020 season, 11 CMRA Novice race wins, 2 Texas Mini Grand Prix (TMGP) race wins; 2019 season, won CMRA F5 and F6 Championships (10 wins), won 10 TMGP Championships (30 wins), won 2 American Super Mini GP Championships (2 wins); 2018 season, finished 5th in Ohvale Talent Cup Championship.
2024 racing goal: Finish in top 10 consistently in MotoAmerica Supersport.
Racing career goals: Compete in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and Moto3 World Championship.
Racing hero: Dennis Black (father).
Favorite track: VIR.
Favorite hobbies: Riding motocross, e-racing, bowling.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Bowling.
