Glenn Nelson, from Windaroo, developed a passion for racing motorcycles at the age of seven. After having an accident where he broke his jaw in three places in BMX racing, Glenn decided that motorcycle racing was more for him.
Starting out at seven years old on dirt flat track, Glenn showed some impressive talent which saw him advance to all kinds of motorcycle racing, including oil track and tarmac.
Always having an interest in two wheel racing, Glenn spends many hours watching MotoGP and Superbikes. His attention was drawn to bike racing due to his family and the family’s friends being involved in the sport.
Now aged 11, Glenn has won countless races and titles and has set his heart on moving up the professional racing ranks to hopefully make it his career.
Queensland has very little tarmac road racing for junior motorcyclists which meant that Glenn was competing in the Victorian and New South Wales series. After missing the first round of the Victorian series due to other racing commitments, Glenn made every other round throughout the season.
Riding his 85cc race bike, Glenn won the NSW Short Course Road Race title and took all bar one race victory on his way to becoming champion. Although the Victorian series had Glenn racing hard, he finished the season on the top step of the podium for the championship.
Included in his year of racing, Glenn was battling for the Australian Championship in is class and age group. This saw him ride at many tracks where he was able to finish second outright in Australia.
As well as his 85cc bike, Glenn also has a Yamaha YZF-R15 which he has been learning the ins and outs of in preparation for the next step in his racing. Motorcycling Australia have launched a Junior Road Race Academy known as the Oceania Rookies Cup.
This series would see Glenn travel to six rounds alongside the Australian Superbike Championship, where he would take on 19 other young riders on equal equipment.
When asked what he thought was the best part of racing Glenn said he enjoys the speed of racing and leaning the bike as far over as he can.
“The thrill of close racing and having all of the other riders around you when you are going fast is great,” he said.
Racing is not a cheap sport and Glenn’s parents are very supportive in all that he is doing. From preparation of the race bike to driving him and the bikes to tracks all over the country, Glenn’s parents spend their free time doing bike activities.
Glenn’s younger brother Alex has also starting riding at some events, although he says he is not as into it as much as Glenn.
When Glenn turns 12, he will be eligible to try out for the Asia Talent Cup and the UK Talent Cup. These series are of course held overseas and sees some of the best young talent from all over the world tryout. This step is a big one but something Glenn is looking into in the not too distant future.
With the help of a couple of sponsors, LKI, Dynomite Moto and Shark Leathers, Glenn has the talent and skills to become one of the best motorcycle racers in the country. Keep an eye out for race number 239 as I think we will soon be seeing a lot more of it and this talent from Logan City.
