A CHAMPION motorbike racer has teamed up with his former college to offer students a unique inroad into the world of motorsport.
Current Welsh open champion and Ulster Grand Prix winner Daley Mathison is to help drive forward the ambitions of motor vehicle students at Darlington College with a bespoke course in motorsport engineering starting September 2015.
The course will allow students to work as part of the Daley Mathison racing team where they will be able to assist in the supervised restoration and preparation of the team’s race vehicles, including a £25,000 Suzuki supersport and £55,000 superbike.
The 23 year-old, of Fairfield, Stockton, who studied mechanical engineering at Darlington College after leaving school, said: “This is a unique opportunity for students to learn a range of skills as part of a competing motorcycle race team.
“The college has invested in a fantastic fully equipped workshop facility where the students will get supervised hands-on experience working as part of my race team and may also get the opportunity to accompany me as part of my crew to race events, such as the Isle of Mann TT.
“This will mean that at the end of the course they will have a reference saying that they have worked in a professional race crew which will then help them to pursue careers within the motorsport industry or continue their studies.”
The motorsport course will provide students with an understanding of light vehicle systems and structures, competition vehicle preparation requirements and the application of mathematics and science.
During the course students will also have opportunities to visit the motorsport facility at Croft Circuit to prepare race bikes for competition.
“The college has been absolutely fantastic in its support,” said Daley. “And it’s not just the motor vehicle students that we hope will benefit from our race team being based there.
“We have already had the livery for our body kits designed by the finishing, body and paint students at Darlington College and there will be a number of opportunities for the photography and media students to capture our work and accompany us to race events throughout the year.”
Curriculum manager Lee Childs added: “I think this is the first college course of its kind to offer students the chance to work alongside a professional motorcycle champion as part of his race crew.
“It provides the opportunity for students to then move into careers such as race engineers, tyre technicians, test and development engineers or specialist engine technicians or perhaps eventually pursue higher education courses, such as an HND or degree in motorsport.”
For further information on Darlington College’s Motorsport Diploma Level 3 course contact (01325) 503030, e-mail enquire@darlington.ac.uk, or visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
