RAMP, a youth riding scheme in North Yorkshire, has been given a new lease on life after a break-in threatened to shut it down for good. The Richmond Area Motorcycle Project, which has been helping teenagers get into riding the right way for nearly 20 years, lost four of its Honda CRF125F bikes in a theft late last year. This loss could have ended the project entirely due to its reliance on grants and donations.
The theft was a major setback for RAMP, but thanks to the quick intervention of Dave Thorpe and Honda Motorcycles UK, the project is now back on track. The MX legend stepped in after hearing about the situation and offered a practical fix by loaning three-year-old CRF125Fs from his Honda Adventure Centre.
The CRF125F has been central to how RAMP operates, thanks to its simplicity, toughness, and unintimidating nature, making it perfect for introducing new riders to bikes. Losing four in one go left a massive gap, but the arrival of these year-old machines has helped fill that void.
A crowdfunding effort is still underway, but help has already arrived from an unexpected direction. Honda UK has also committed to supplying and paying for a spares package to repair the damaged bike, further solidifying their support for the project.
The handover of the bikes took place in person, with Dave Thorpe delivering them to RAMP. This means the project is now ready to run sessions once again, thanks to the quick thinking and generosity of Honda Motorcycles UK.
RAMP's partnership with local youth services and police has been instrumental in keeping young people engaged and away from trouble. The scheme uses off-road bikes as a hook to teach road safety, basic maintenance, and the legal side of riding.
The project's reliance on grants and donations makes it vulnerable to setbacks like this theft. However, the arrival of Honda Motorcycles UK and Dave Thorpe has provided a much-needed lifeline.
RAMP is not out of the woods yet and is still pushing its fundraising effort to secure its future. The handover of the bikes marks a significant turning point for the project, which can now focus on getting back to running sessions.
The impact of RAMP cannot be overstated, as it provides young people with a safe and controlled environment to learn about riding. With Honda Motorcycles UK's support, the project is now more resilient than ever.
