More and more Irish talent are making the move to race in Europe at an early age, and it’s a trend that continues to gather momentum. The latest young rider to take that step is Brendan McAreavey, the 10 year old is set to make his EMX65 debut this weekend at Delfzijl in the Netherlands.
The opportunity to compete on the European stage is something McAreavey has been eager to embrace, viewing it as a key part of his long-term development.
“I want to get experience racing at bigger events for when I’m older. EMX is the best place for that. I can’t wait to be racing all over Europe, I like learning new tracks and challenging myself”, McAreavey told GateDrop.com.
Like many young Irish riders, McAreavey has been inspired by those who have already made their mark internationally. Seeing the likes of Cole McCullough excel in EMX125 and Max Jones qualify for Loket last year has only strengthened his belief.
“For sure it helps to see local lads racing on the bigger stage. I have done a lot of training with Cole in Magilligan, he’s a great coach and someone I look up to a lot. Max did incredibly well at last year’s EMX, so that was great to see as well. We were cheering him on from back at home”.
While qualifying for the EMX65 finals at the MXGP of Czech Republic — held at the iconic Loket circuit — would be a dream, McAreavey is keeping his expectations grounded and focusing on steady progress.
“It would be really cool to make the finals at Loket. I will focus on one round at a time and see how it goes. My goal is to be competitive in all my races this year. Hard pack is still my favourite, but I’ve worked really hard to improve in the sand and enjoy it a lot now too”.
When it comes to inspiration, McAreavey looks across the Atlantic, naming two of the biggest stars in the sport as his main influences — Jett Lawrence and Eli Tomac.
“Jett Lawrence is number one for me. I love his riding technique and style on the bike. Number two is Eli Tomac for his aggressiveness”.
Alongside his EMX65 campaign, McAreavey will also keep busy closer to home, balancing multiple championships while aiming to represent Ireland on the international stage once again.
“We will race the British Championship, also the rounds of the Plews British Championship that don’t clash with EMX. If I get picked, I would also love to ride for Ireland in the Junior World Championship and the Coupe de l’Avenir. I raced for Ireland for the first time last year at the Coupe and really enjoyed the whole experience. Apart from that, we will do some home races as well in between”, McAreavey concluded.
It’s always encouraging to see young Irish riders stepping onto the European stage to gain valuable experience that will benefit them in the years ahead. As previously reported, Mason Shields will also be lining up at Delfzijl in the EMX65 class. Daniel Devine will also be racing the EMX85 class so it promises to be an exciting — and undoubtedly challenging — weekend for the young Irish riders as they begin their European journey.
