Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation launches academy for kids

Publication date: 17 April 2011

Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF) on 10th April opened its doors to young riders in a bid to help them learn bike racing.

Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, QMMF President, said a new academy has been set up for riders as young as nine years of age. "We have purchased 40 bikes exclusively designed for youngsters aged nine to 15. This is the best age to teach kids about racing and motocross in general'.

"We will provide the bikes to these riders. Parents can bring their kids to our academy and we will introduce them to the sport of racing," Al Attiyah said. "The academy has been established to help youngsters learn about racing. We have asked Alex Cudlin and Sultan Al Kuwari to help these kids," he added.

"Alex has been with us for a fair bit now. He loves riding and can interact with the kids very well as he comes across as somebody who loves what he does," Al Attiyah said. "It is the same about Sultan. These two riders will work on this project and get kids to understand the sport from a different angle," he added.

Cudlin said he was excited at the launch of the academy. "I think this is a fantastic move from QMMF. I say this because the best way to learn any sport is when you start very young. We will be handling kids between the ages of 9 and 15. We will teach them everything about motocross riding," the Australian said.

Al Attiyah said the combination of Cudlin and Al Kuwari will make it easier for the kids to learn about racing and the bikes. "These two have experience of racing in international events. The kids are in safe and experienced hands. "These two communicate well and I am sure this academy will help us take kids off the road as well.

"We will teach them about racing and we will tutor them about competition. We will speak to the kids in their language," Al Attiyah pointed out.