John Reynolds has spoken about his support for the ACU Suzuki GSX-R600 Trophy, after becoming an official ambassador for the category.
The former three-time British Superbike Champion has praised the series launched last year as an affordable way into the upper echelons of bike racing, in a climate where so many talented riders fall by the wayside due to lack of funds. Comparing it to the Yamaha R6 Cup, the 42-year-old pointed to his own experience as an up-and-coming young star to underline the importance of similar initiatives at such a formative and crucial level.
I raced for Suzuki for many years, Reynolds affirmed. I heard about the Trophy last year, and I must say I thought it was a fantastic idea, really exciting.
Way back in the late 1980s I think it was 1987 I took part in a one-make series, the Honda CBR Challenge. It was a massive learning curve, but it was a great experience to be up against talented riders on equal machinery.
I'm really glad I did it, as there were riders on-track who were better than me and it allowed me to tag onto them and learn from their riding skills. It's an excellent way to move forward.
Reynolds also paid tribute to the low-key, inexpensive nature of the series, allowing young riders to develop and learn their trade away from the harsh glare of the national spotlight.
I think a one make championship is a great idea for developing talent, the Nottinghamshire-born ace enthused. You just have to look at the talent that the Yamaha R6 Cup has uncovered. As a one-make series goes it is an expensive option, and coming in at British championship level can put a lot of pressure on youngsters.
One of the great benefits of the GSX-R Trophy is it is at a lower level, so we will get grass-roots riders absolute raw talent which will provide us with a blank canvas to work with.
![[L-R] ACU Suzuki GSX-R600 Trophy rider Ritchie Thornton and and Christian Clark flank former British Superbike Champion John Reynolds [pic credit: Steve Gough]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/410294.jpg)
