Prospect Max James Excited for New Challenge

NEWS Tuesday 12th December 2023, 7:30pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Stellar Monarchs recently announced the signing of exciting 16 year-old prospect Max James for the 2024 season. Read more from Max ahead of the new year.

Max James joins Stellar Monarchs for the 2024 season in what will be his debut season at Championship level. Looking forward to the season Max said, "It's definitely going to be a challenge but I'm really excited for it, to see how I get on.

"As I have said before, the main part of it is learning and bringing myself on. I think that's exactly what can happen, riding with more experienced riders."

Geographically it doesn't seem an obvious choice for the youngster but he explained how it came about.

"I messaged John [Campbell] last season after I had a pretty good meeting at Armadale. I messaged to see if he was interested in using me and it turns out that he was, so it worked out pretty well. I'm in Leicester so it is quite a long way but I think it is worth it."

As he says, Max's record at Armadale is already quite impressive – victory in the 2020 British Youth Championship at 250cc level, a fall in same race the following year, and runner up in the 2022 500cc event behind Sam McGurk. Then a whopping 15+1 for Leicester Cubs from 7 rides in their NDL visit last season. That could have been more but he did take a tumble on the last bend of his last race while in front!

He remembered that well. "It was very annoying but I've definitely had some good results there, I look forward to it and I am really comfortable with riding those tighter tracks, the more technical ones. I think it's a track I can do really well around."

Whilst stepping up to the Championship, it sounds as though Max will also be continuing at NDL level in a league which should be more aimed at the improving young riders than previously. "I think we're going to aim to try and do all the racing we can, because to bring myself on I want to have as much track time as I can get."

He has had so far in his career the pleasure of turning out with a team of talented youngsters at Leicester Cubs and he acknowledges the importance of that experience.

"The track at Leicester, and the fans who are always great there, I think will be the same as at Edinburgh. The technicality of the Leicester track I think is part of the reason that I ride so well around Edinburgh. The Leicester track also has tight corners.

"The Cubs have definitely had a good team over the years, some good riders who have also helped bring me on. We worked well because of how young we are, Tom [Spencer] was the oldest and he was still pretty young. Definitely a good team and a good experience."

On the subject of machinery Max is quite confident. "My machinery is looking very good. I'm sorting out the engines at the moment, which ones I want to ride for each track. Obviously they do vary a lot but I would say my machinery is tip-top, I don't think I will ever blame my machinery for poor results."

With the Monarchs not being amongst the earliest to announce their team, he added "I'm quite excited to find out who else is going to be in the team!"

It's no secret that Edinburgh have often struggled to find young riders with real potential for their reserve berths (in spite of plenty of effort), but they believe that this year they have addressed that in making their first rider announcement for the 2024 season by securing Max on a loan deal with Leicester.

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