Students compete at the Mini Moto grand prix

Source: ONE NewsA mini motorcycle

Education is not normally something you can fast track, but for hundreds of secondary school students, this year’s school work has literally thrust them on to the Manfield motor racing track.

Year 12 students are racing mini motorcycles they built at school – and they even get NCEA credits for them.

The concept started in a just a few schools last year. Now hundreds of students from schools around New Zealand are competing in this year’s inaugural grand prix.

Gisborne school teacher Ross McDonald says it is very easy to motivate the students.

“The hardest thing is to actually physically throw them out of the classroom at the end of the period,” he says.

This year, sidecars are also being showcased.

“If you’re silly on (the sidecar), you’ll fall off. But if you know what you’re doing, you should be alright,” says James Hopkinson of Feilding High School.

The students complete their course on Wednesday, when the winners receive awards from former World Superbike champ Aaron Slight.