Nathaniel Binega-Northcott and Aiden Lopes will look to continue their strong form when the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club’s Circuit Racing Championship resumes on Sunday.

Northcott, 14, is leading the Minibike Senior class while newcomer Lopes, 13, is making exceptional strides since joining the club last month.

This weekend, the fifth race day of the championships at the Rubis Southside Raceway, Northcott will move up to the Formula Open class for the first time and be racing a GP150 motorcycle.

“He’s the only minor currently racing outside of the Minibike classes so this is a big accomplishment for him and for our youth as a whole,” said Kristin Divine, a member of the new BMRC committee. “It proves that age isn’t the main factor in being a successful racer.

Divine, whose son, Aeziah Divine, competes in the junior category, is hoping to grow the youth programme and send their best riders to overseas competitions.

“It’s not uncommon to come down to the track on the weekend or even during the race days and see our youth doing circles, working on shifting their body position, inching their knee closer and closer to the asphalt,” she said.

“Our youth riders have a desire to get better, they are pushing the boundaries and pushing themselves and their bikes to the limit.

Divine said the BMRC plan to take six to ten riders to a weekend training programme in the United States in the coming months.

“I’m working alongside one of our top adult racers to find suitable international programmes to expose our youth to further opportunities to develop their craft beyond Bermuda,” Divine added.

“Our racetrack is very small in comparison to what most other overseas motorcycle clubs boast. You can only do so much with what is available on island and our young riders are yearning for more.

“I have spoken with a few students about the opportunity and every one of them is eager to take part.”

Sunday’s race day marks the ninth anniversary of the death of top rider Toriano Wilson.

The 14-year-old died after a crash during a race in the Red Bull AMA US Rookies Cup at Virginia International Raceway.