On the 30th of March 2019, 7 BamBammers lined up on the grid of Mondello Park for the inaugural BamBam Race. The BamBam is a class designed to introduce the next generation to the thrill of motorcycle racing. With the ethos of instilling confidence and race craft in a fun and welcoming environment, free from pressure or demand to perform, the class has exceeded all expectations. On Saturday 16th October, at the finale of the 2022 Irish Minibike Championship, the grid will grace no less than 20 youngsters vying for success. What is evident when standing on the sidelines, revelling in the spectacle that these youngsters provide, is a clear joy – of riders and their cheerleaders alike. Levels of experience and ability vary, as do individual aspirations, but that becomes irrelevant when you become a part of the IMC BamBam crew. During the inaugural season, rules catered for any make/model of 90cc 4-stroke machines. In 2020 organisers made the bold decision to make it a controlled class, right down to standardising gearing.
The idea of taking a machine out of the box, upgrading the tyres, and taking it straight to the track with no other changes, created an innovative level playing field unique to the Irish Minibike Championship. The machine of choice – the 10TEN 90R machine – proved to be a little gem. With little upkeep other than fuelling and checking tyre pressures, it provided a sound entry-level to motorcycle racing, not only for the pilot but also for the mechanic. This, in turn, opens up the possibility of being a part of a fantastic paddock to others who previously had no knowledge or obvious route to this much-loved sport. The paddock houses teams with vast mechanical knowledge while still accommodating those who are learning as they go. The class provides for a platform where this gap is removed, and each young pilot who lines up on the grid has an equal chance of triumph. Past front runners have proven it to be a successful breeding ground for our future stars. The likes of Lewis Mullen, Matt Davidson, Alfie Flynn and double Champion Buster Sherman-Boyd have progressed through the ranks with continued success. The 2022 Championship table is topped with names such as Max Robinson, Paige Mullen, Boyd Knipe, Leon Simpson, IMC BamBam Scholar Ella Mosgrove, and Championship leader Joel Haire, each of them carving out the beginning of fruitful careers and equipped for the next step up through the Championship.
