KYLE PAYNE
ON HIS 2024
JOURNEY
FOREWARD
CRAIG MUIRHEAD
I first started working a little with Kyle in the 2021 season through my Performance principles course and then to help him meet his challenges of 2022 we continued on a one-on-one basis throughout the season and 2023. His determination and focus makes him easy to work with and proud to have been part of such a successful season. I look forward to continuing the journey together and to see what is possible in 2024”
Craig Muirhead
Andy Ibbott
Having worked with so many riders over my career, from track day enthusiasts at the California superbike school to MotoGP riders, training Kyle presented a new challenge being only 11 years old when we first met in the autumn of 2018.
This was the first time I had taken on the challenge of coaching such a younger rider and honestly was not sure what to expect.
Kyle took me by surprise! Such a willingness to listen, experiment and take constructive criticism, which enabled quick progress through the different coaching stages, as a rider and coach relationship, we clicked immediately and worked throughout the 2019 season resulting in becoming the British MiniGP champion that same year.
I have continued working with Kyle every season since helping him to adapt to the bigger bikes and GP circuits of Spain and look forward to continuing with Kyle in 2024. I see a lot of potential in kyle, he reminds me of a young Thomas Luthi and our journey to the 2005 125 GP championship win.
Rider coach, public speaker, and former managing director of the California superbike school.
Andy is also the author of MotoGP performance riding techniques publication and book.
FOREWARD
CRAIG MUIRHEAD
I first started working a little with Kyle in the 2021 season through my Performance principles course and then to help him meet his challenges of 2022 we continued on a one-on-one basis throughout the season and 2023. His determination and focus makes him easy to work with and proud to have been part of such a successful season. I look forward to continuing the journey together and to see what is possible in 2024”
Craig Muirhead
Andy Ibbott
Having worked with so many riders over my career, from track day enthusiasts at the California superbike school to MotoGP riders, training Kyle presented a new challenge being only 11 years old when we first met in the autumn of 2018.
This was the first time I had taken on the challenge of coaching such a younger rider and honestly was not sure what to expect.
Kyle took me by surprise! Such a willingness to listen, experiment and take constructive criticism, which enabled quick progress through the different coaching stages, as a rider and coach relationship, we clicked immediately and worked throughout the 2019 season resulting in becoming the British MiniGP champion that same year.
I have continued working with Kyle every season since helping him to adapt to the bigger bikes and GP circuits of Spain and look forward to continuing with Kyle in 2024. I see a lot of potential in kyle, he reminds me of a young Thomas Luthi and our journey to the 2005 125 GP championship win.
Rider coach, public speaker, and former managing director of the California superbike school.
Andy is also the author of MotoGP performance riding techniques publication and book.
About Kyle
Kyle is a 16-year-old motorcycle racer who will be competing in Europe for the 2024 season.
The main focus will be on the European Talent Cup (ETC) in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship in the world after gaining valuable experience last year in his rookie year.
He will also be making 7 wildcard events across the British Talent Cup (BTC) and French Objective Grand Prix (OGP).
Holding both UK and French nationalities, Kyle is excited to compete in the UK and France where he is currently based and to continue his development by learning from the depth of talent found in the FIM JuniorGP championships. With the goal of getting in the pointes the challenge is not to be underestimated.
#82 STATISTICS
2017 – 3rd British Championship Mini moto
2018 – 8th British Championship Mini GP50
2019 – 1st British Champion Mini GP50
2020 – 12th Spanish Promo 4 Championship
2021 – 8th Spanish Promo 4 Championship
2022 – 7th OGP French Championship
2023 – Double podium and pole position OGP
9 RACE WINS
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Kyle’s love for motorcycle racing began at the age of 9 when he had the opportunity to ride a mini moto at the Scott Reading M4 academy.
At 10 years old, much later than most, he undertook his rookie racing year on a Blata Mini Moto finishing 3rd overall taking 4 wins and 9 podiums in the British FAB championship.
Graduation to a geared Metrakit Mini GP bike in 2018 he secured his first podium in his 4th race meeting and went on to be crowned British Mini GP champion in the 2019 championship at the age of 12 years old with 3 race wins and 12 podiums.
Since becoming British Champion, the opportunity came to compete in the Spanish ESBK championship with Cuna de Campeones, aboard a Yamaha 250-powered MIR bike. Competing on GP-style tracks around the country led to finishing 8th overall with the highlight taking his maiden podium in Jerez.
2022 resulted in podiums in the French OGP championship including the iconic Magny Cours as well as and double podium at his home track Pau Arnos aboard his Moto 5 machine. In 2023 Kyle joined Ilusion Racing and his completed first rookie season in the European Talent cup gaining massive experience as well as picking up a further 2 podiums and a pole position in the French OGP championship wildcard entry.
FACTS
Born:
22nd February 2007 in Berkshire UK.
Nationality:
Dual nationality French/English.
Location:
Pau in South of France, relocated from UK in June 2021 to help my opportunity to train and race.
Siblings:
I have a little brother called Neo, he is my biggest fan.
School:
International School of Bearn France.
Height:
1m 67cm
Weight:
49KG
AWAY FROM RACING
Q: What are your future aspirations?
A. Of course becoming a MotoGP or a Superbike rider, but I am also very interested in the telemetry and data. I think it may become a focus after my GSCEs.
Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
A. I like music. I have been drumming rock songs since I was 6. Also, I like playing video games when I get a break from school and training.
Q: Do you speak any other languages?
A. I speak English, French and Spanish.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A. Yes, Max our dog, I think I miss him most when I am travelling racing but don’t tell my mum.
Q: Any party tricks?
A. I can complete the Rubix cube in just over 1 minute and I have a few beatbox skills.
Motorcycling and Racing
Q. Favourite Rider?
A. Marc Marquez but I am also a big fan of Jack Miller.
Q. Closest track for training?
A. Pau Arnos only 20 minutes from my house.
Q. Favourite race track?
A. Very difficult as it keeps changing, but Portimao circuit is amazing.
Q. Most entertaining championship on TV?
A. Moto GP for sure and also MotoE Electric bikes, I would love to try one of these in the future and I think the technology is very interesting.
Q: First motorcycle?
A: Polini series 1 mini moto for my 9th birthday.
Q. Most memorable race?
A. First FAB MiniGP win at Whilton Mill after finishing 2nd for 9 races in a row and of
course my championship winning race at Tattershall
Q. Apart from riding what else helps you improve during a race weekend?
A. I enjoy studying my data (telemetry) from the day’s sessions and comparing with other riders to understand how to go faster.
Q. Ambitions for 2023?
A. Win races in the FSBK OGP championship and score points in the ETC. I believe with hard work and training this is possible. I aim to learn everything I can from the talented and experienced group of riders in ETC so I can improve race on race and move up the order.
Q. Biggest challenge to date?
A. Getting my confidence back in 2022, the end of 2021 was tough with injuries and missing the last races of the season and started 2022 on a new bike and in a new paddock added to the challenge… but we got there race by race and I am ready for 2023.
Q. What other bike related activities do you get involved in away from racing?
A. I really like training other younger riders and I think this is something I would like to do a lot more of. Maybe even train adults on track days in the future or open my own training school, that would be cool.
LATEST NEWS
Round 3 of the FIM JuniorGP World Championship took place in Spain at the circuit of Barcelona. Unfortunately exams meant missing the two practice days of this race weekend making an already tough task that little bit more challenging. The First session on Saturday morning was free practice. Having already missed so much track time, the goal was to just…
Round 2 of the FIM JuniorGP World Championship took place in Portugal at the circuit of Estoril. Kyle’s second visit to the circuit, hopes were high to qualify as the previous round for the feature races, but as often happens in racing always expect the unexpected. Fridays free practice sessions were spent finding the right setup with the circuit being…
Following the success of the 2023 season Kyle is excited to be returning to action with Ilusion racing for his 2024 campaign. As last season the focus is on moving up the order in the ultra challenging European Talent Cup (ETC) as part of the FIM World Junior Championships but also a fresh challenge of making a return to racing…