With the North Yorkshire Youth Enduro-racing championship firmly under his belt, a talented motorcyclist is making his mark on the senior Enduro-racing scene. Cameron Baker Haste, a Year 10 student at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, has clocked up a string of competition successes across the country and is rapidly becoming a name to look out for as his off-road riding skills are placing him among the top riders of his age group nationally.
Fifteen-year-old Cameron has only been riding motorbikes for two years but his passion started as a toddler when he was given a Little Tikes trike, which he took everywhere, even to bed! He then moved on to riding a quad bike before stepping up to Enduro-racing. The discipline demands a lot of mental strength and stamina, as well as a huge amount of hard work to maintain the bike and learn how to do this. A natural rider, Cameron has taught himself many techniques and is focused and truly devoted to his passion for the sport, his sponsors and his team riders.
Enduro riding is an off-road discipline across marked-out sections over rough terrain. Riding a KTM 125 XC-W, Cameron is now regarded as a serious player, having scooped the North Yorkshire Youth Champion, he has just moved into the senior class in competitions that take him all over the country, almost every weekend of the year.
Cameron, who is now regarded as a serious player in the senior class of Enduro racing, said: “When I am riding I forget about everything as I have such freedom. It’s not only fun but it’s something that I am good at and I am finding that my technical skill and physical strength is improving all the time. I am immensely grateful to all my sponsors who kindly support me and my fellow team riders.”
Cameron’s training schedule is relentless. To be bike-fit Cameron does static spinning, gym, circuit training and weights four times a week, training on his motorbike each Saturday, competing on Sunday with only one rest day on Monday.Cameron trains with his two brothers with his Mum, Ulrika, as mentor and team leader. They attend local and regional training grounds, and his main sponsor, Edge Offroad, offer play days the day before the race to get a feel for the track, where former Eurotek KTM factory rider Joe Deakin trains the Edge Offroad team on occasional team training days.
Sonya Jarvis, sole director of main sponsor Edge Offroad, said: “Having only met Cameron 16 months ago, it was clear from the outset that he has a passion for his riding, and is totally dedicated to it. It was obvious that he needed more support to further his dream and, from January this year, I was in a position to offer Cameron a sponsorship package that will do just that. With the likes of the world-leading oil brand, Motul Lubricants supplying oil to all the Edge Offroad team, Eurotek KTM, based in Ripon, supplying all the teams riding kit, helmets and boots and DP Brakes supplying brake pads; this is a fine start for Cameron and all the team to go forward with strength in 2020. Other sponsors like Fernley Engineers, The Will Guys, Lenzkes Clamping Tools and Tennant Construction, RFX, Moto Shack and Offroad Orange are financially supporting the team and this in turn makes it so Cameron and his team mates have an impressive set of graphics for their bikes throughout the season. This helps all riders so they have less to worry about and ensure Cameron is able to just concentrate on his riding alongside his studies and enjoy it, which is the key to any sport. He’s a great member of the team, and supports me on race weekends, never afraid to get stuck in and help out, and always has a smile on his face! We all hope he has a successful 2020, and here’s to his bright future.”
Cameron did his first race in November 2018, with Edge Offroad and this year has progressed to racing in the ACU British Extreme Championship where he is attending the same event and similar track to big racing names, such as factory riders including Billy Bolt and Jonny Walker. It is a lot of competition there but will hopefully bring him on as a rider with the experience from riding such events.
Cameron attends both British and various club championships, racing enduro cross country and extremes, as well as sprints, which he loves and is fast at. Cameron’s aim is to become a professional Enduro rider and judging by his progress and achievements to date, he is certainly heading that way.
Stella Wardale, Pastoral Manager, concluded: “It has been great to see Cameron develop from a shy Year 7 into a confident and independent Year 10 with the self-discipline and passion to achieve an exceptional level in his chosen sport – his face just lights up when he talks about it.”
