How to get your kids started early

There are a handful of projects running around the country that give youngsters a taste of two wheels.  

There’s an off-road school called the Geoff Mayes’ MX try-out (01379-852452) which is based in East Anglia and the Newnham motorcycle project is a permanent off-road course in inner London (call 0207-473-4434).

If you want an on-track experience the Mick Boddice Track Training School, based at Darley Moor near Ashbourne in Derbyshire, (07966-514747) will take kids from 12. For £250 you get a full day’s instruction with all the kit on an Aprilia 125. Riders need to be able to start and stop competently and cope with gears.

The best way to build up your skills from an early age is to enter competitive events, and ACU-run off-road events are open to boys and girls from six years old. Those clubs also run their own have a go sessions sometimes, for more details contact the ACU on 01788-540519.