Kevin Schwantz backs Scott Redding for big MotoGP future

Scott Redding has been tipped as a future MotoGP star by American legend Kevin Schwantz.

The emerging British talent enhanced his growing reputation in 2010 when he claimed podium finishes in Indianapolis and Phillip Island in the new ultra-competitive Moto2 world championship.

Redding, who celebrated his 18th birthday this week, was a consistent front-runner by the season’s climax and has already been earmarked for a MotoGP future with his Belgian-based Marc VDS Racing squad.

Texan Schwantz has become a keen admirer of the Gloucestershire rider, who remains the youngest rider in history ever to win a Grand Prix following his 2008 triumph in the 125 race at Donington Park.

Schwantz, who won the 1993 world 500cc crown for Suzuki told MCN: “He is a consistent runner at the front and I think what shows how good Scott is was how far off he was early on.

“Then there was a point in the season where he went from the back two thirds of the field to being always being one of the fastest guys in most sessions.

“He was nearly always top three or top in practice, or even fastest.  As big as he is for a Moto2 bike I think that what he is doing is outstanding and for me more than anything is what he can do on a bigger bike like a 1000cc in MotoGP in the future. Get him on something where his size helps and I think he will be awesome.

“Often you would see him lose a couple of tenths coming off the last corner, which was just making a 600 accelerate with somebody his size on it. But I think Scott has a big future and the 1000s will be good for him.”

See this week’s MCN (January 5) for the thoughts of Suzuki boss Paul Denning on the premier class prospects for Redding.