Calgary motorbike racer still dreams of taking on the best in the world
Torin Collins spent the past four years racing motorbikes on the Junior Grand Prix circuit in Europe.
He raced against teenagers who were the best in the world and says that experience has made him better.
"It was a little difficult but I was able to learn so much and I grew as a person and as a racer," the 18-year-old said.
"Definitely a great experience and I loved the past couple of years over in Europe and I'll miss it but I'm looking forward to the next step."
RACING IN THE UNITED STATES
That next step for Collins is racing in the American National Championship in the Super Sport series.
Collins has already competed in one event in Austin, Texas, in September and says he was pleased with how it went.
"In September, I did something called a wildcard, which is a one-off race. I went there, joined a team and raced on a track I'd never been on and a bike I'd never been on in a national championship and it was great," he said.
"I finished fourth in the first race and in the second race, I was able to snatch a podium, finishing third."
NEED FOR SPEED
In Europe, Collins competed against the best teenagers in the sport.
In the United States, he'll race against professionals and adults.
He says the motorbikes are also more powerful.
"The ones I was racing in Europe were going 245 km/h top speed. In Texas, they were going 272, so it's a big difference -- a big speed difference. The bikes are heavier and all of that, so it will be a big change," he said.
GOAL HASN'T CHANGED
Collins signed with a team and will be racing in the Moto America Super Sport next season.
His goal is to finish in the top three and fight it out for the Championship.
Beyond that, Collins still has the dream of heading back to Europe and racing against the best in the world.
"The eventual goal is to hopefully be in the world championship again. Not junior world championships again but hopefully the world championships with the best of the best," he said.
"That's always the goal and I've been chasing that since I was five years old. So the goal hasn't changed -- it's just on a different path."
And Collins says he's always looking for sponsorship. If interested, you can contact him on his Instagram or Facebook, @torincollinsracing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972494.1721646739!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Canadian killed near Gaza border after threatening forces with knife: Israeli police
Israeli police say a Canadian citizen was killed Monday after threatening Israeli security forces with a knife near the Gaza border.
Hollywood reacts to Joe Biden exiting the U.S. presidential race
Hollywood was quick to react to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
What to know about the Canadian ties of Kamala Harris, Biden's choice for successor
U.S. President Joe Biden is stepping aside as the Democratic candidate in that country's November election and throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris -- a Montreal-area high school graduate who spent several years in the city.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.
Markets bet on second Bank of Canada interest rate cut coming this week
Economists and market watchers are betting the Bank of Canada will deliver another interest rate cut this week amid mounting evidence that inflation is sustainably easing.
10,000 unionized employees return to work, stores to reopen Tuesday: LCBO
Workers are back on the job today at Ontario's main liquor retailer, but the Liquor Control Board of Ontario says stores won't be open for business until Tuesday.
Canadian musicians struggle to get visas to perform in the U.S., some cancel shows
Backlogs and processing delays of temporary U.S. visas required by entertainers, athletes and artists has forced some Canadian bands to cancel U.S. tour dates because paperwork wasn't processed in time.
Harris looks to lock up Democratic nomination after Biden steps aside, reordering 2024 race
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their own party that he would be unable to defeat Donald Trump.
Justin Trudeau reacts to Joe Biden announcing he won't run for re-election
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election Sunday, calling Biden a 'true friend.'