Sport
Learning the hard way
25Mar08
Mitchell Pirotta is a rising star in 60cc stock class motorbike racing. Picture: DARREN EDWARDS
MITCHELL Pirotta knows how to ride but he may have to spend more time crashing to reach the top.
Pirotta, 19, fell in love with motorbikes while growing up around his father's business, On Two Wheels Motorbikes in Penrith.
"I got my first bike, a Pee Wee 50, when I was seven and have been riding ever since," he said.
"Once motorbikes get in the blood they're hard to get rid of."
At nine, Pirotta began competing in junior motocross/supercross events, turning professional at 15.
"Motocross is an extreme sport held on a dirt track and very hard on the body," Pirotta said.
"I've broken nine bones over the years and now have one screw in my wrist and two in my leg."
After three years rising through the ranks, Pirotta left motocross and began road racing six months ago.
Last week he made his debut in round one of the 2008 Australian Superstock Championship at Eastern Creek.
"I lead in every race but just couldn't finish it off in the end," he said.
"I went pretty good considering I've only been road racing for six months."
Pirotta finished fifth overall at the end of the round and is now only six points behind second place on the championship ladder.
"There are 14 rounds to go and the championship is definitely up for grabs," he said.
Pirotta said his goal was to be among the top five riders in the Australian Superstock Championships this year and then travel overseas to race in Europe and the US.
"The dream would be to race MotoGP like Casey Stoner but racing any event in the US is a major deal."
Pirotta admits he has a lot to learn about road racing which he found out the hard way, four weeks ago at the Superstock State Titles at Eastern Creek.
"That was a really shocking weekend," Pirotta said.
"I had a flat tyre up front that I didn't know about and the bike just flew out from under me.
"I ended up having two big crashes that weekend."
Pirotta said crashing happens so quickly and all you can do is hope you don't get too badly hurt.
"You have to expect that you are going to crash sometimes," he said.
"The good thing is, you always learn something from a crash."
Elite motorbike riders have to be fit both physically and mentally and Pirotta said he trains hard to stay sharp.
"I do a lot of cycling and go to the gym at 5am everyday."
He is now preparing for round two of the Superstock Championships in South Australia on March 30. "I know what I have to do now and I'm confident I can win."
