A Toddler On A Motorbike
September 22, 2007 | Filed under Family & Friends
Apparently there’s a 21-year-old motocross champion by the same of Casey Stoner, who’s making a splash on the international circuit. He’s one race away from being crowned world champion of the motocycling world. What struck me most though, were some quotes attributed to his father which were mentioned in my newspaper today, regarding Stoner’s natural aptitude for the sport.
- We used to ride everywhere on the farm and I was sitting on the back, directing him. He was controlling the bike by himself by 18 or 20 months, and got his first throttle blister at 18 months.
- [He] learnt things on a motorbike by three or four that I know adults have trouble mastering.
- He was very very fast at that age [six]. He could beat riders who were quite accomplished at a world level.
I also like this sentence in the article: “Before Stoner started school, his father judged him ready to race”.
Speaking of irresponsible parenting…this is another example. Regardless whatever the natural ability of the child, there should never be any instance where an eighteen month old toddler should be given the chance to control a motorbike that weighs fifty times what he does. Nor should a three/four year old be doing dangerous moves on a motorbike that adults can’t do. Nor should a six year old be racing against full-grown adults.
While I’m not of the “oh, let’s mollycoddle a child until they’re sixteen” persuasion (children need challenges thrown at them for the right reasons, to equip them with the skills they need in the ‘real world’), there are limits as to the challenges and experiences a child should have – especially if these experiences are dangerous and life-threatening. Six year olds racing motorbikes against full-grown adults crosses that line.
Shame on you Colin Stoner. You are an irresponsible father, risking the life of a child in order for you to, as the article states, “dangle him as bait before the major racing teams in the hope that one would snap him up”.
13 Responses to A Toddler On A Motorbike
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Well, I must say, that conjured up a mighty strange mental image. Was there a video of Colin Stoner beating his chest, by any chance?
Jordie on September 22, 2007 #
Mollycoddle *hehe*
Noemi on September 22, 2007 #
Mhm…I agree with you on that one. They’re fortunate that nothing happened to him. *things of Bonnie in Gone With The Wind*
Julie on September 22, 2007 #
Oh, and he’s married too?
Julie on September 22, 2007 #
Wow at 18 months? I know the parents of a girl who was about 5 and she was the state BMX champion a few years ago. I think she is about 10 now, but yeah when she was 5-6 she was racing against 16 year old guys and beating them, but even then I worried what if she got hurt. Yeah it isn’t a motor bike but it is still a track with jumps.
It makes you wonder why people/parents push their children into things at such a young age.
Bobbi-lee on September 22, 2007 #
OMG that is really bad parenting to me! Eighteen months! Tsk tsk. Casey is just lucky no accidents occur.
Chien Yee on September 22, 2007 #
I have no idea how an eighteen month old could even control a motorcycle in the first place. I keep having these mental images of a baby trying to drive. I blame that stupid car ad with the little boy driving. Was it for the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Emily on September 22, 2007 #
My answer to most situations like this is: some people are just morons.
I’ve no clue who that kid is, and now I probably care less.
All I know is I’d never let my child do something like that, but I still can’t even ride a bycicle so….
Corinne on September 22, 2007 #
Uh…I hope he was exaggerating. A lot.
Did anybody else lawl at the fact that this is the Stoner family, which might explain a few things? God I’m immature >_>
Leila on September 23, 2007 #
Wow… I’m surprised that one would be really proud of this. I understand about super intelligent kids who learns how to pick up a pencil when they’re two years of age, but I agree… it’s super irresponsible and selfish to be stating that an 18 month old baby was learning how to steer a motorcycle already.
I really enjoyed your post, I will be back
Destiny on September 23, 2007 #
I can’t believe a kid could control a motorbike by themselves at 18 months. Almost all can’t even colour inside the lines at that age!
Tsk, tsk, what a bad parent. How could he put his son in danger like that?
Kaylee on September 23, 2007 #
LOL, if my mother would have known about this, she would go crazy, She hates motorbikes. I guess that 20 years of working in the ER does that to you.
Anyway, I agree with you. I can’t even imagine how 18 months old kid could control a bike.
Zala on September 23, 2007 #
Ugh. You’ve got to be kidding me =/ I smell “Stage Parent” from thousands of miles away already, but this one actually does potential physical as well as psycological harm?
Chantelle on September 23, 2007 #