24th-Annual Roadracing World Young Gun Honors:
By David Swarts
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 24th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
AMA Pro races and Championships, including eight AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (8 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 11 and 18 (as of the start of the 2020 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships on a 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke or larger racebike or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Gus Rodio
Age: 15
Current home: Hammonton, New Jersey.
Current height/weight: 5’3”/95 pounds.
Current school grade level: 9th grade.
Began riding motorcycles at age: 3 ½ years.
First road race: 2015, Millville, New Jersey, NJ MiniGP, Spec 50, 8th Place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400
Current tuners/mechanics: Kevin Rodio (father), Artie Meeker, Frank Angel, Rich Cronrath.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Top Sponsors: Rodio Racing, Evolve GT, N2, Spellcaster Productions, Kathedral, K-Tech, Orient Express, VNM Sport, Motool, NJMiniGP, Innovative Motorcycle Research, Red Mist Racing, MAR Contractors, Adams Polishes, Jonco Collision, Motogladiator, HJC, Chicken Hawk Racing, Dunlop.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2019 season, 3 top-10 finishes in MotoAmerica Junior Cup, won 9 CCS regional and track Championships, won NJMiniGP Supermini Championship; 2018 season, 10 podium finishes with CCS, won 2 Motogladiator Championships (SS300, SB300), won 3 NJMiniGP Championships.
2020 racing goal: Win a MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race.
Racing career goal: Win a World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Road America.
Favorite hobby: Motorcycles.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: In treatment for severe depression.
