Fourteen year old Anthony Alonso from Fremont, California has had a busy time on the run up to his UK debut at Silverstone in the Monster Energy British Motostar Championship a couple of weeks ago.
After taking three race wins and setting a lap record at the CalSpeed circuit in Fontana, California Anthony flew to the UK with his father Ivan and Iain Hutton who organised the UK trip.
The day after arriving it was an early start up to Mallory Park to meet Steve Patrickson and for Anthony to get acquainted with the Honda RS125 he would race at Silverstone. After a half day test Anthony managed some respectable lap times and was getting close to the times set by several other Monster Energy Motostar Championship runners who were also testing at Mallory. After the test Anthony commented "the bike is awesome, it rev's much higher than my RS125 back home and where mine stops pulling, this one keeps going. Plus it has a quick shifter which is cool"
The team then packed up at Mallory and headed for Silverstone, arriving Thursday afternoon to get acquainted with the track on a couple of mountain bikes. After Friday's free practice and Saturday's qualifying sessions Anthony ended up 17th on the grid, but on race day he got a boost in confidence by going seventh quickest in morning warm up after holding fourth for part of the short session.
The Monster Energy MotoStar Championship race took place at 2:15pm local time and saw Anthony get a solid start. "I got a good start and tried to fight for position right away. It was awesome to battle with so many different riders. I caught up to the third group and got into a great fight. I kept getting passed by a 4-stroke on the exit of the straight and I had to do my best protect. The final lap was intense. It was the most intense lap of my life" said the young 14-year old. Anthony ended up in a superb sixth position overall and took third in the cup results. For his efforts, Anthony was awarded the "hard-charger" award, which is given to the rider who makes up the most positions from his/her qualifying position in the race.
"I want to thank Bud at BARF Racing, Evolution Motorcycles, Iain Hutton and Steve Patrickson for giving me this opportunity. This week I'm going to Spain to try out for the MotoGP Red Bull Rookies Cup and then back to the UK to contest the final round of the Monster Energy MotoStart Cup series at Brands Hatch" concluded Anthony.
Suomy America President, Jim Doyle, and Anthony's father, Ivan Alonso, reached an agreement today where Suomy will join Anthony's European Adventure.
Suomy joins as a sponsor for the Brands Hatch and final round of the BSB Monster Energy Motostar Cup Championship. Anthony will once again pilot the SP125/BARF Racing machine for the second time in as many weeks in the hope for another solid result.
About the opportunity, Suomy America President, Jim Doyle, said "I have seen this little kid grow into a young man with a bright future. I saw him when he was only 5 years old, riding around on PocketBikes. Suomy America has sponsored him for the past couple of years and I am happy to be part of this adventure"
"I am so excited about Brands Hatch and I want to build on the momentum from Silverstone. I am very grateful and happy that Suomy America are joining our UK adventure. Thank you Jim" said Anthony.
Now in Spain for the Red Bull Rookies try outs, it's going to be a busy end to Anthony's European adventure as he travels back from Spain just in time for the first practice session at Brands Hatch on Friday where he is hoping to carry on with the good form he showed at his UK debut at Silverstone.
