if you’re feeling game...

...you might want to try these sports, but we’ll understand if you feel it’s safer just to watch! by toby skinner

teenage kicks at Donington

Not many 15-year-olds have driven a motorbike at 170mph, let alone against the best riders in the world. But when the British MotoGP Grand Prix comes to Donington Park (accessible via Nottingham East Midlands Airport) from 30 June-2 July, that is exactly what Oxford schoolboy Bradley Smith will be doing. Smith was given a place on the legendary Repsol Honda team for the 125cc classifi cation (the little brother to the main MotoGP competition) after winning last year’s Spanish championship.

And he is still trying not to be star-struck. “It’s amazing,” he says. “Last year, I was watching these guys on TV and going ‘Wow’. Now I’m racing against them.”

Smith, who does his GCSEs next summer, says that it doesn’t feel that fast on a MotoGP bike – until you crash. “You’re not looking at what is fl ying past you,” he explains. “It’s only when you crash and go skidding across the tarmac that you realise you were moving so quickly.”

After a respectable start to his MotoGP career – he was just outside the top half of the fi eld in his fi rst two races – Smith wants to start getting points, especially at Donington. “It’s my home race, so there’s that added motivation,” he says. www.motogp.com

makes you want to hurl

Hurling is widely regarded as the fastest fi eld sport in the world. It is played with a hurley (a 25-38 inch stick generally made from the root of the Ash tree) and a sliotar (leather ball). Fifteen-a-side teams play on a huge pitch measuring around 140x90 metres.

The goal is H-shaped. Teams get three points for scoring in the net at the bottom of the ‘H’ (which is guarded by the goalkeeper) and one for sending it over the bar. A good strike can propel the sliotar at 90mph in speed and 80 metres in distance. Cork are traditionally the best team, having won the All-Ireland Championship a record 30 times. They are favourites to reach the fi nal of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on 9 July (www.munster.gaa.ie) and win what would be a third straight All-Ireland crown in the season fi nale on September 3.

high-flying in Prague

Danny Wainwright (left) is a true high-fl yer. He holds the world record for the highest ollie (skateboard jump) on fl at ground (113 cm). But how is it done? “Have one foot at the back edge of the board and one around the middle,” he says. “Pop the back hard, lift your front foot to send you into the air, slide it along to bring it level, land, bend your knees and ride away looking cool.” Or watch the experts do it when the World Championships come to Prague on 7-9 July. www.wcsk8.com/2006