Cape Town – Big Bay schoolboy Jared Schultz started racing two years ago on a Honda CBR150; since then his motorcycling career has accelerated and seen him contesting the National SuperJunior series on a KTM 390 in 2016, as well as wild-carding in races around the world.
Now the 16-year-old has been selected by Team BWG Kawasaki in Italy to compete in the inaugural Supersport 300 World Championship, with nine rounds to be run at circuits all over Europe, each with two races, the results of which will count towards world titles for both riders and manufacturers. This will see Schultz commuting to Spain, Portugal and the UK while completing his matric year at Parklands College.
He has recently returned from riding in the KTM RC Cup World Final at Assen in the Netherlands, having also competed as a wild card in earlier rounds of the international RC Cup at the TT circuit and Donington Park earlier in 2016, where his performance caught the attention of Team BWG manager Marco Lobello.
Lobello has 12 years’ experience of World Superbike racing, including a full season in the Superstock 1000 category in 2016 with rider Marco Sbaiz. Former Team BWG riders include top contenders such as Leandro Mercado and Christopher Bergman.
Time and motion
"This is a great opportunity for my racing career, which I hope to follow professionally after I finish school," said Schultz. "But there are nine rounds, so I'll have to manage my time carefully.
“I think I'll do well because I have some international experience, I've raced at some of the circuits, and I'm very comfortable on 300cc-class bikes - but I know the competition will be tough because because there are a lot of riders with more experience than me.
"I'll know where I stand once I've tested the Kawasaki; my aim for the first race is top 10 and then take it from there.”
His father Karl said that this opportunity was yet another step in Schultz's racing career and would allow him to build on the experience gained in the KTM RC Cup World Final.
“This is indeed a huge opportunity for Jared to showcase his talent," he said, "and a chance to work with one of the more established teams."
Schultz's long-term goal is to race in the Moto3, Moto2 and eventually in the premier-class MotoGP series.