By Pam Kiriakidis
WANDONG’s Jackson Macdonald is more at ease when he is motorcycle racing – a fast-paced sport he has taken to the next level.
Racing at one of his training areas, Jackson recently competed at the opening round of the Victorian Championships at the Broadford State Motorcycle Sports Complex, taking on 150cc four-stroke racers as the only 80cc two-stroke racer in his category – finishing 2-2-1 in three combined races.
Prior to the championships, the 11-year-old went to Port Melbourne for the opening round of the FIM Mini GP Series, where he raced alongside junior 160cc riders, aged from 10 to 15-years-old on his Ohvale 160cc.
Jackson said the competitions satisfied to his motorcycle racing passion.
“I felt really happy that I was able to go out there, do my thing and be fast,” he said.
Finishing sixth in both races during round one, the second round brought new challenges as he raced at Cameron Park Raceway in New South Wales.
Although the second round was not kind to Jackson, finishing 11th in the second race due to a tyre issue, Jackson overcame the conditions and is currently eighth in the competition standings.
The motorcycle racer recorded his first win in the Hartwell Motorcycle Club Championships at Broadford State Motorcycle Sports Complex last year.
Between racing in junior state and national competitions, Jackson trains two days a week with his father on muscle workout and mental preparation at several racing tracks across Melbourne.
“What we do is some training in like a gym at home, and we do cardio, treadmill and balance,” Jackson said.
“Sometimes what we do is training with our neck and rolling it around and that could strengthen muscles.”
Before a race Jackson said breathing was an exercise that enabled his mind and body to ‘get in the zone’.
“You just take deep breaths and just relax, and what I normally do is sit with my friends and play some music,” he said.
Following the footsteps of his father and coach, Glenn Macdonald, a former state and national motocross champion, Jackson first rode a bike at two years old, moving onto dirt bikes as he got older.
Jackson said his father was one his many inspirations, often providing useful advice.
“[My dad] would have this little three-wheeled bike … and we would ride it through the bush to Grandma’s house,” he said.
“It feels good [to have dad there] because he can relate to how the bike’s reacting sometimes, and it really helps.
“[He would say] ‘don’t worry about anything else, just go out there and have fun’.”
Prepared for his next three races in the FIM Mini GP Series, Jackson said he was driven to make a career out of motorcycle racing in the future.
“What I want to do in the future is go MotoGP and be the rookie that everyone knows and remembers,” he said.
“I’m really excited [for my next competition], whenever I get to ride, my head goes through the roof [with excitement].”
