James Jacobs may not be able to ride competitively at the moment while the Australian Superbike Championship is on hold due to the coronavirus but he is not letting the disruption to his first season at the top level get him down.
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The up-and-coming Port Stephens motorsport product, aged 13, will continue training and riding when he can while waiting for the series, in which round two and three have been postponed, to kick off again.
"I'll keep training on dirt bikes. We'll do limited coaching and training," James said. "The more practice now the better when the season starts again."
James rides a Kawasaki Ninja 400 in the national motorcycle racing championship's YMI Supersport 300 class.
The Hunter River High School student first got a taste for Motorcycling Australia's national championship in 2019 when he was invited to ride in the last round at Sydney Motor Sport Park with the Proworx Racing Team.
Supported by his coach, the Armidale-based Paul Slade, and his family, parents Tracy and Doug and twin sister Jessica, James took the leap and entered into the 2020 championship in the Supersport class - the primary feeder program for senior road race riders.
He was able to compete in round one of the 2020 championship series before the COVID-19 pandemic pressed pause on most sport and recreation activities.
"It's the highest series you can compete in. It's the next step, especially if you want to be a professional rider," James said.
"I was ready to take the next step and I have the support of my family. It's a big commitment."
James paid tribute to his sister, Jessica, for her support. He said his twin gives up a lot of her passions and hobbies, such as sport and spending time with friends, for him to be able to compete.
James started riding motorbikes when he was 4. He followed in the footsteps of his dad, Doug, who is a long-time rider and passionate motorsport fan.
Recreational riding became flat track racing when James turned 5 and he has not left the competitive circuit since, earning himself many junior titles and and championships.
In 2018 James transitioned into road racing. Last year was an extremely successful one for James who rode with North Coast Road Racers and St George Motorcycle Club and won three state titles.
He also placed first in the season with both clubs, a career achievement that stands out to James. For North Coast, he received the clubman's award for sportsmanship, dedication and being an all-round ambassador for the sport.
"I was really happy to win the clubman award with North Coast," he said. "St George was one of the harder series. I fought pretty hard to get that."
Spending 2019 dedicated to practicing and getting faster paid off for the teen who then entered the superbike championship.
"I am determined to be successful in this sport and I don't give up easily," James said. "I give 100 per cent every time I am on the bike. My ambition is to compete in MotoGP, win a world title or be a successful rider in the sport in Australia as a career - to be paid to do the sport I love."
Due to the expensive nature of motorsport, between travelling for practice and competitions and maintaining his bike, James relies on sponsorship. Anyone interested in sponsoring James is asked to email the Jacobs family at jacobstdjj@outlook.com.