News / Superbike
Superbike racer launches fundraiser to help rider into sport
A champion Superbike racer has launched a fundraiser raffle to help another rider into the prohibitively expensive sport.
Bristol-born Luke Hedger hopes to raise £1,300 through the lottery, which he will give to someone who needs the financial support to keep racing.
Superbike is a motorbike racing sport that, like its fellows, has high costs attached to it.
As well as spending on protective kit like helmets, gloves, racing suits and boots, riders must shell out thousands on transportation vans, tyre warmers, training, entry costs and – of course – the bikes.
Hedger, who has won titles in both the British Motostar and National Superstock 600 series, knows how much people have to give up to get into the sport.
“I’m from a family that has not a lot of money,” he said. “They sacrificed a lot. My mum and dad remortgaged the house three or four times to keep me going.”
“Motor sport in general is an expensive sport to do. There’s a lot of money getting thrown around. Teams are spending millions.
“My tyre bill for one round is £3,000.”
If a rider is lucky enough to secure sponsorship then a lot of their finances will be covered – but usually not all.
Unlike the juggernaut that is Formula 1, Superbike is a cash-strapped sport. Even for champion racers with sponsorships and a club like Hedger, the rider likely has to front some costs themselves.
The fundraiser lottery will hopefully ease some of that pressure.
Entrants pay £1 per ticket to enter into the draw for a weekly cash prize of £25,000. A chunk of the money raised will go into a pot, which Luke will eventually donate to a Superbike rider of his choice.
“It’s not going to the fastest racer,” he said. “It’s going to be based off which family might be struggling the most, working their bums off, to get their sons or daughters into racing.”
‘I have been helped a lot in my career,” he said, explaining he wants to “give a little bit back”.
“It’s not going to be a lot because I don’t have a lot. I’m just trying to help out a little bit to help a young lad.”
Main photo: jdgmedia
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