The folowing is an interview with Bermudian athletic grant Jediah Cumbermack who received an athletic grant for $10,000usd.
My starting point
Before the grant of the Finn Wardman my racing life was very challenging. The most difficult part about it all was I had to constantly travel back and forward. This sport is already expensive and adding travel cost and accommodations to everything just made it extremely difficult for me to compete in full seasons. My dad passing away also made it harder for me, because my mom was the only one that could really help me out.
The barrier to entry:
Before receiving the funding, I wouldn’t have been able to travel to my race round. This is due to the expenses just being a bit much for me. The grant really helped me out by covering my team fees, and tire expenses. At the time that was the major dilemma because without paying those fees I was unable to ride.
Expectations vs reality.
My expectations going into the race season wasn’t set very high. This is due to me having to learn the new track layouts and just overall getting used to the different environment. Racing in the BSB paddock is totally different from racing in MotoAmerica which is what I’m used to. At the time the only thing that really mattered was my adaptation to the tracks. One major switch over from MotoAmerica to the British Superteen Championship was the tires. In MotoAmerica they predominantly use Dunlop tires, and in BSB they use Parelli tires. So, the swap was the biggest change that I had to get used to.
The unexpected:
One thing that surprised me throughout the season was how quickly I adapted to the tracks. My race pace wasn’t to far off from the leader’s pace. This was a major breakthrough in my confidence as the season went on. I also wasn’t expecting the amount of love and support that my teammates and mechanics showed me. This was uncharted territory so I wasn’t to sure on how I would be treated. I found some really good friends and people that are willing to keep supporting me.
Beyond the journey:
This experience showed me that you can do anything you put your mine to. This really tested my mental state of my mind. Becoming a motorcycle racer is a dream that I have always wanted to pursue. I have been striving for greatness. Hopefully one day I can make my dream come true. No, it is not going to come easy as the start of 2025 I was scrambling trying to figure out ways I can race. I am positive that I can do this. With my mom by my side and my family members pushing me forward I am motivated to stay strong
The power of belief:
The Finn Wardman grant really helped me gain confidence into making my trip happen. It covered the really important bills that needed to be handled. Also, this actually relived some of the stress on me as it wasn’t anymore major bills that I had to pay off. It overall kept my head in the right state to not be thinking about all the pressure of dealing with the payments.
The highlight reel:
The most exciting part of my experience was racing on different track layouts. One thing I enjoyed the most was the hospitality at Rokit Rookies. The food was amazing, and the staff were great. Also meeting new people and building a bond with most of them was also a win for me.
The biggest challenge:
The most difficult challenge of my racing journey was dealing with the lack of track time here in Bermuda, due to mechanical issues with my bike and lack of parts available to be imported. To deal with this situation I would work out and keep my fitness up while I still can. It doesn’t make sense dwelling on something that you can’t change because it’s only temporary. Fitness is one of the most major aspects of racing a motorcycle. So, in the end I’m still gaining in some type of way.
A ripple effect:
This experience most likely would see me trying to live somewhere in England. This is only because it would been much easier for me to race and make money while doing it at the same time. It’s really expensive traveling from Bermuda to England. The plane tickets in itself are $1,500 each. I think that this would be the best option for me going forward. I also love the experience I have in a new country. It brings more opportunities.
Paying it forward:
I plan to help any young rider in need. On Saturdays at the BMRA motorcycle club, there are a lot of young riders that are just starting up. I would give them the basic knowledge of riding a motorcycle and teach them. When they master the basics, I would start getting more in depth about braking, throttle control, body position, and lastly tire life.
A different perspective:
This experience shows me that no matter the situation or objective, you should take everything in life seriously if an opportunity comes to you, because you never know what life has in store for you. Racing motorcycles wasn’t a thought in my head until my dad introduced me to my first bike which was a pw 50 when I was 6 years old. At first, I was nervous because it was the first time but when I got on the gas I was ridding it by myself for a little while until I got the hang of things. Eventually I got the handling dialed down and I started to enjoy riding. From me getting on my first bike to me racing road bikes now, I just think to myself, if I wouldn’t have tried something new I would’ve never known that I liked it!
The story untold:
I can say one of the major things learned when racing motorcycles is to push myself to find the limit of the bike and track. When you don’t push yourself, you see no area of improvement or no step forward. Most fast riders learn this technic pretty quickly, but when you’re just coming up in the ranks its difficult to go over your limit to find the limit. It is also very helpful. Let’s say in qualifying your losing 500 tenths of a second in one corner. If you try to brake a little later and get on the gas sooner on corner exit, you just improved in that sector. I can say this was one of the biggest learning curves for me.
The value of support:
This grant is really helpful to someone in need like me. It is very convenient to have money funded to you when you are not the superstar you are destined to be yet. Like I said, this sport or any sport is a sacrifice if you are trying to make a career out of it. The amount of time and effort you put into your dream is important. In my journey, there are a lot of things that need to be handled before I even ride. I have to pay for my team signing fees, gear (leather racing suit, gloves, helmet, air bag system, boots), airline ticket, hotel, and transportation. Once I start racing, fuel, tires, my mechanic, and crash damages if I have an incident on track. So, this funding means a lot to me, and I am certain that any other young athlete will enjoy this blessing.
Advice to myself:
If I was to give myself advice from this experience, I would say that you should always get your mental and physical health right before you leave to go on your journey. Any sport is mentally draining, especially motorcycle racing. I have so much to think about when I’m riding and I have to make quick decision that could be between the lines of life or death. So, I try my best to stay focused and put my head into race mode, because when you are on that bike it’s so intense that’s it’s hard to even blink! That one blink can make you miss your braking marker or make a mistake somewhere, so we try to blink as least as possible. Motorcycle racers hit between 130-200mph! It’s very dangerous and you have to think thoroughly about what you are doing and make sure that you stay on two wheels.
Last words:
Thank you, Geordie, and everyone who is a part of the Finn Wardman fund. This was the best decision of my life. From the get go, I knew that everyone was fully invested in what I had to bring to the table. The amount of interest and kindness showed was amazing. You guys feel like family and I would be willing to still represent your name proud and strong. Once again thank you for this fund. I couldn’t have done it without you. Lastly to the late Finn, may you rest in peace and I’m sure I will see you sometime.