January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Wilson signs with Red Bull
Will compete in nine-race international moto series
Wilson, 13, is one of 23 junior riders selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup - a youth version of Moto GP set up to find the next generation of pro riders.
The move could potentially be a huge money-spinner for the speed crazy teenager, who has been competing against riders twice his age in Bermuda and occasionally in the States for the past year.
The nine-race series, which concludes with a three-day event including the best young European riders in Valencia, Spain in November puts Wilson in the international spotlight.
He will be watched by scouts from the major moto GP teams and could potentially win a contract to ride at the highest level of the sport.
"It's the equivalent of joining the academy of a Premiership football team," said his Dad, Dennis 'Chicken' Wilson, himself a former champion at the local level.
The youngster, who will ride an $80,000 KTM 125cc bike sporting the distinctive Red Bull logo, will have a team of mechanics and coaches working with him.
He flies out to California in February for his first practice day before the series officially begins at the Barber Motorsports Park in Atlanta on April 18.
The series, which is being held for the first time in America, will feature on the same card as the AMA pro circuit races and will be televised on ESPN Moto and other specialist motorsport channels.
Wilson, from St. David's, is convinced he can become a professional motorcylist.
"That's what I want to do, definitely. I think I'm good enough. I love to go fast. I'm looking forward to riding that bike," he told us yesterday.
He said he had no nerves about taking on the best riders in the States, having clocked the third quickest time on a trial day in Alabama last year, where he was chosen from over 600 applicants to be part of the series.
"I think I can take them. I can't wait to get out there," he said.
Astonishingly, Wilson hadn't raced at all until two years ago.
"I've been wanting him to race since before he could walk," said his dad.
"But his mother thought it was too dangerous. A couple of years ago, she went away on a trip and I went straight out and bought bikes for my three youngest kids - Toriano, Keanu and Khyren.
"She was away for two weeks and I had them training at the track every day. She was not exactly excited when she came back and found out, but when she saw them ride she had no worries.
"All three of them are naturals. They took to it straight away. Now she's on the committee at the race track and she wants to go out and watch him ride in the States."
Toriano said he had always wanted to ride and now hopes to follow in the footsteps of GP stars like Valentino Rossi, the six-time world champion.
"I think it must have been in my blood. When I was little I used to go watch my dad and my older brother race and I used to say to them 'let me ride', 'I'll show you how to ride'."
Wilson senior, who home-schools Toriano to help allow him to race overseas, believes his younger children could follow in their brothers footsteps.
"No-one's ever been to this level in Bermuda before. He's opened the door for others to follow.
"His brother Keanu is 12 and he'll be racing on the senior GP 125s next season. He's definitely got the talent. They all have way more talent than I ever did," he added.
As well as regular practice at the Southside track, Toriano and his brothers keep in shape for racing by doing push-ups at home and going on regular runs round St David's.
Toriano said he was tight with his brothers and wanted them to come out and watch him race in the States.
The family is still looking for sponsorship to help them fund Toriano's burgeoning pro career. As title sponsors Red Bull funds all the coaching, the bikes and everything to do with the series. But the family still has to cover the cost of getting him to the States.
[[In-content Ad]]Any businesses that can help with sponsorship can call Dennis on 336-2700.
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