After a highly impressive debut season, 18-year-old Gino Rea remains with Beowulf Racing for another crack at the European Superstock 600 (STK600) Championship in 2008.

Gino quickly became the talk of the European paddock during 2007, taking a third place at Valencia and wins in national-level races at Spain and the Czech Republic. The Beowulf ace took the accolade of best rookie Brit in this year’s championship finishing 12th overall with the only Englishman to better him being the vastly more experienced Greg Black.

Watching Gino in action was usually a heart-stopping experience! Hindered only by a lack of prior knowledge of the international circuits at which he raced, Qualifying was usually spent leapfrogging up and down the timesheets only to then go on and land a decent result in the race itself. Lightning starts and a never-give-up attitude became the trademarks of his European debut season.

Prior to joining Beowulf, Gino had spent several seasons competing in – and winning – various junior motocross and supercross championships, culminating in the runner-up spot in the hotly-contested 2006 Bracken KTM Cup Championship. But it was when riding a race-prepared 600cc sportsbike at Mallory Park at the end of the same year that the youngster made the racing world sit up and take notice of his talent. With no prior experience aboard such a machine, Rea set pole position in qualifying and went on to win both races. It led to the bikers’ newspaper, Motorcycle News, tipping Gino as “One to Watch” in the future.

 “This year has been a brilliant learning experience with one podium and 12th overall,” says Gino. “Now I have to put what I’ve learnt to good use and show that I can run up front in every race. I would like to be regularly on the podium, and if not, in the top 5. I have to do well next year to further my career, and I will be putting 110 percent effort into every race and my training. I can’t wait for the season to start and I must thank my sponsors, my family and the team for once again putting their faith in me as a rider.”

Date of birth:	18th September 1989
Home town:	Ewell, Surrey
Favorite circuits:	Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Valencia
Hobbies:	Anything with two wheels
Race highlights (so far!):
2000:	YMSA Supernational (65cc) - 3rd British Supercross NEC Birmingham (65cc) - 1st British Supercross Exeter WestPoint (65cc) - 3rd
2002:	Premier Motocross Championship (85cc) - 2nd Mini Olympics USA. Top half finishes in supercross, motocross and enduro.
2003:	Future West Weston Supercross 85cc, best finish - 2nd Dutch Supercross 85cc, two rounds: best finish 2nd
2004:	85cc South Yorkshire Supercross Summer Series Champion.
2005:	Aprilia Superteens, missed 3 rounds - finished 10th. Spanish CEV 125cc championship – entered final two rounds.
2006:	Bracken KTM 660 Cup Championship - 2nd New Era Formula 600 race, Mallory Park - qualified on pole and won both races.
2007:	European Superstock 600 Championship - 12th Podium 3rd place at Valencia National-level wins in Spain and the Czech Republic