Joel Taylor

Who is Joel Taylor?

Joel Taylor is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer from Australia.Enter 16-year-old Joel Taylor, who has earned a Moto125 wildcard into the 2010 Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island. Spending much of 2010 racing in Spain, the young New South Welshman believes his experience in the hotbed of MotoGP will prepare him for the challenge ahead. “I did the a few rounds of the Spanish 125cc Championship last year and have been doing the entire Championship this year and it’s been a great experience,” he said. “The whole time racing and staying over in Spain has been an eye-opener and a lot different from what I’m used to over here. “They take it so much more serious over there, it’s very professional and fans really love it. “The season has been really enjoyable and it’s made me a better rider.” The opportunity to race in the same format as Moto125 should give the young gun a leg-up over his opponents, an aspect Taylor believes will stand him in good stead for the three days on track. “In Spain they have the same format as in the MotoGP championship so I’m used having the long practice sessions and the qualifying,” he said. “The racing is very fast and a similar style, so the time I spent in Spain will give me a bit of an advantage.” Beginning his road racing career as a 13-year-old in 2007, Taylor has progressed through the ranks at an amazing rate, which is testament to his skill and hard work. Moving to the 125cc class in 2009 was the biggest move of his short career, but strong performances in Spain and a solid showing at Phillip Island could see the whirlwind ride continue for Taylor. “I’ve moved through the ranks fairly quickly, but I think going over to Spain helped me with adapting to the level of competition and overcoming difficulties,” he said. This maturity at his tender age is something Taylor prides himself on, but you can still hear his boyish enthusiasm shine through when he talks about his upcoming date at Phillip Island. “It’s a dream come true to race in front of a home crowd,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about this and aspired to race at a MotoGP. “It’s a great opportunity to show my talents and perform to the best of my ability. “Hopefully I can turn a few heads and make people take notice of the Aussie riders.” Taylor has been earmarked for stardom for some time now and his involvement in the recent AIS/MA training camp in Canberra confirmed this. Enjoying the chance to train and live in an elite environment, Taylor said the camp gave him the motivation to take his riding and professionalism to the next level. “I took a lot out of the camp and realised just how professional you have to be to make it at the highest level,” he said. With a supportive family and strong team behind him, the BRP Racing Team rider is set to make waves in Phillip Island.The 2010 Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will be held at Phillip Island from October 15-17.