Ride on!
Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:29:00 GMT
Accountancy student Luke Remmer is a motocross star facing up to big new challenges
MOTOCROSS racing star Luke Remmer (pictured) is moving on to even bigger and better things as his new season starts. But even though he will be racing against full-time pros, he is adamant that he will be sticking with studies at his hometown university.
Luke is determined that even if a career as a professional rider beckons, his University of Huddersfield degree in accountancy and finance will mean he has plenty of options for the future.
Meanwhile, as the 2012 motocross season gets underway, he is confident that physical fitness allied to natural talent will enable him to compete and maybe add another national title to his list of honours.
Last year, Luke won both the ACU British 125cc Two Stroke Championship and the Fuchs Silkolene 125cc Expert Championship. Those are competitions largely for semi-professional riders, but now Luke moves up a gear and will compete against up to 40 full-timers in the MX2 British Championship and the Red Bull Pro Nationals.
It’s going to be tough.
“I will be racing against full-time professionals. They do it every single day of their lives. Whereas I am working nine-to-five, they are training on their bike nine-to-five.
“But I feel with my abilities and also my fitness training, I will compete for the British Championship this year,” he asserts.
Luke is currently on a work placement – part of his course – with the Leeds-based Audit Partnership Ltd, putting his accountancy training to good use. After September he will return to the University of Huddersfield to complete his degree.
When not working or studying he is building up his fitness.
“I might not get as much bike time as the full-time professional riders, but I train a lot harder than them. I am up every morning at six to go running, swimming or working out in the gym. When I get back from work at six I train till eight at night.”
Luke, aged 20, has been riding motocross bikes since he was six. His father Andrew was a champion rider and got him into the sport. Now his list of sponsors includes major manufacturer Yamaha, who furnish his specially-tuned and adapted machine.
He is passionate about his sport, but enjoys his University of Huddersfield studies too. “The tutors are very supportive”, he says.
“Staff are always on hand and willing to offer help and advice when issues arise, even outside of teaching time, which has been most reassuring.”
