Nine-year-old Chilliwack motorcycle racing prodigy Jake Hayes will be a special guest at the 2012 Vancouver Motorcycle Show, taking place Jan. 19-22 at the Tradex in Abbotsford.
Hayes will compete in the mini races.
The 49 pound kid has spent the last year crushing competition at various races on a Suzuki DRZ70. He is most excited about the Vancouver Motorcyle Show because he gets to debut his new ride, a Honda NSF100.
Hayes got his new bike on a family road trip to San Diego.
The Chilliwack kid had a very productive 2011.
At a regional event in Calgary last summer, Hayes finished second in the intermediate division, lapping a field of older kids on faster bikes. Because he was too young, Hayes wasn't allowed to accept his medal, prompting the president of the Alberta Racing Club to make a rule change request for next summer that will allow Jake to officially race against adults.
Hayes won the June and July youth (7 to 10 years old) regional races in Chilliwack, and took a national race in August, beating the reigning champion by more than 30 seconds.
"This kid is the real deal and he is far beyond what he should be capable of doing at his age," said Hayes' coach and former Superbike racer Scott Borthwick. "People who are in the industry realize that he is very special."
More info on Hayes can be found online at www.jakehayesracing.com.