Page 15 - April Edition 2025.cdr
P. 15

Superbike Championship, riding a        he  would  face  some  of  the  UK's     ethic. He has spent significant time
     Honda. The first round of the season     most talented riders. This would be      studying British circuits, watching
     will take place from May 3-5, 2025,     a  new  challenge  altogether,  as       race  footage,  and  speaking  to
     at Oulton Park.                         Blaze would not only have to deal        experienced  riders  and  teams  to
                                             with  the  pressure  of  competing       ensure he is fully prepared for the
     His  success  in  South  Africa's
     S u p e r s p o r t   C h a m p i o n s h i p   against  highly  skilled  riders,  but   challenge ahead. His riding style is
     established Blaze as one of the most    also the challenges of adjusting to a    aggressive but controlled, with an
     exciting  young  riders  in  the        new racing environment and racing        ability to push his bike to its limits
     international  motorcycle  racing       format.                                  without  taking  unnecessary  risks.
     scene. He had now proven that he                                                 These qualities will serve him well
     could compete with the best, and his                                             as  he  tackles  the  demanding  and
     sights  were  set  on  greater                                                   competitive British racing scene.
     challenges beyond South Africa.                                                  Another  key  factor  in  Blaze's
                                                                                      success  will  be  his  team.  He  has
                                                                                      already  secured  a  place  with  a
                                                                                      respected  team  within  the  British
                                                                                      Supersport  Championship,  which
                                                                                      has  a  reputation  for  developing
                                                                                      young  talent.  His  team  has  been
                                             Expectations  for  Blaze's
                                                                                      instrumental  in  helping  him  fine-
                                             British Supersport Debut
                                                                                      tune his bike and get accustomed to
     T r a n s i t i o n i n g   t o         Blaze  Baker's  upcoming  debut  in      the  nuances  of  the  British
     International Racing                    the  Quattro  Group  British             Supersport machinery, giving him
     After  claiming  the  national          Supersport Championship is one of        the best possible chance of success
     championship in 2020, Blaze knew        the  most  anticipated  moments  in      in his debut season.
     it was time to take the next step in    motorcycle racing. For Blaze, this
     his career. International recognition   move represents an opportunity to
     was key, and to make that leap, he      test  his  skills  on  a  much  larger
     needed to compete in a series that      stage,  racing  against  some  of  the
     offered  both  higher  levels  of        most  talented  riders  in  Europe.  It
     c o m p e t i t i o n   a n d   b e t t e r   also marks a significant milestone
     opportunities  for  development.        in his career, as it is his first venture
     That's when Blaze set his sights on     outside of South Africa's borders on
     the  Quattro  Group  British            the international racing circuit.
     Supersport Championship (BSS), a        Blaze's experience and success in
     prestigious racing series known for     South  Africa's  Supersport              The Challenges of Competing
     developing  world-class  talent  and    Championship  give  him  a  strong       in the UK
     being  a  stepping  stone  for  riders   foundation  for  his  debut  in  the    While  Blaze's  natural  talent  and
     aiming  to  reach  the  pinnacle  of    British  Supersport  Championship.       work ethic will certainly help him
     motorcycle racing.                      His  ability  to  adapt  to  new         in his British debut, the challenges
     T h e   B r i t i s h   S u p e r s p o r t   m a c h i n e s   a n d   c o n d i t i o n s ,   of competing in the UK should not
     Championship  is  widely  regarded      combined  with  his  natural  racing     be underestimated. Aside from the
     as  one  of  the  most  competitive     talent, puts him in a strong position    higher level of competition, Blaze
     600cc racing series in the world. Its   to  make  an  impact  in  his  first      will need to adjust to the unfamiliar
     challenging  tracks,  diverse           season. However, racing in the UK        weather  conditions  in  Britain,
     conditions, and highly skilled riders   will  present  new  challenges  that     which are often unpredictable. Rain
     make  it  an  ideal  environment  for   Blaze will need to overcome. For         and wet conditions can make racing
     young riders like Blaze to test their   instance,  the  British  circuits  are   particularly tricky, especially for a
     skills  and  gain  the  experience      much more technically demanding          rider who is used to the warmer and
     necessary to eventually move on to      than those in South Africa, with a       more predictable climates of South
     even  bigger  stages,  such  as  the    combination  of  tight,  twisty          Africa.
     World Supersport Championship or        sections  and  high-speed  straights     In addition, the British Supersport
     Moto2.                                  that test a rider's braking, cornering,   Championship  features  an  intense
                                             and overall racecraft.
     Blaze made the decision to enter the                                             racing  calendar,  with  multiple
     2022  season  of  the  British          Blaze's  key  strength  lies  in  his    events  spread  across  the  season.
     Supersport  Championship,  where        adaptability and his relentless work     This  can  place  a  considerable



                                                           15
   LHR Motorcycle Magazine Issue 12                                                                                                                April 2025
   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20