Cork teen gets Ireland call-up for motocross tournament

A Cork teen has been selected to represent Ireland this month at the Coupe de l’Avenir in Belgium.

Ben Atkinson, 14, will be taking to the motocross track on September 28 and 29 as part of a team of nine Irish competitors participating in this year’s competition.

The Midleton native, who is currently the leading motocross competitor in his grade in the south, has been riding motorcycles for most of his life, having started when he was three and a half years old, when his father, Cory Atkinson, purchased Ben a PW50 for Christmas.

Ben and his father now travel every weekend to Northern Ireland to race against other competitors in his grade, as well as fitting in a training session every Sunday, before returning home to Cork for the school week.

The competition in Belgium will take place close to the French border in Baisieux, which Ben and his family will travel to via a converted camper-van from September 25.

Speaking to The Echo, Ben’s father Cory said he and his wife are “very proud” of their son.

“It’s something he’s worked very hard for this year, to represent and ride for his country,” said Cory.

“We were all hoping and praying that he got it, [and] when I got the call to say he’d been selected, he was jumping around the house, he was very excited.”

Cory described his son’s love for motorcycles as something that was passed down from his own life, saying, “that would be me” when asked who encouraged Ben to participate in the sport.

“I did a little bit of it back in New Zealand, I’m from there originally, and I just got him a bike one year and it progressed from there.

“It started as tipping around in a field, to then competing in what we call grass-track events, which is just a track in a field somewhere, and then from there, we got in to the motocross side of things.”

While motocross is a dangerous sport, Cory outlined how safety is a major priority for the Atkinson family.

“First and foremost, you need all the protective gear, from boots, knee braces, body armour, helmets, gloves and all that, which keeps that level of danger down very low.

“I don’t get worried about him at all, he’s very much in control of the bike.”

Ben will be sponsored by Cork Engine Centre for this upcoming competition, but Cory said they are “always open” to further sponsorship to fund his journey.

“Three out of four weekends a month we travel up north, and it’s something that costs me a fortune every year, so in order for us to progress forward, we’re always looking for help.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring Ben can email collette_odwyer@yahoo.co. nz.