Jackson Macdonald Explains What Separates A Rider From A Racer

A 14-year-old Australian rider earns a place at the Honda Racing School in Japan, and suddenly the dream gets real: new countries, older competitors, higher speeds, and a price tag most people never see. We sit down with Jackson Macdonald and his dad Glen to trace the exact steps that moved Jackson from early racing in Australia to international starts, age exemptions, and a fast-forming MotoGP pathway that now runs through Spain, Japan, and iconic tracks like Phillip Island.

Jackson shares the clearest performance lesson we have heard in a while: there’s a difference between a rider and a racer. We get into how he studies qualifying footage, lap times, and competitor strengths to build a passing plan, plus how technique actually works when you’re leaned over with knee down and trying to turn the bike efficiently. Glen adds the behind-the-scenes structure: choosing the right coaches, learning from Spain’s road racing “heartland,” and building a home training setup that lets Jackson repeat the same drills without living on a plane.

Then we talk about the part that can’t be separated from elite sport, especially motorsport: money and logistics. Glen explains what it means to close a business during travel, why junior racing is often unpaid, and how support can swing from strong donor years to nothing at all. We also unpack how the Aussie Athlete Fund helps families build real-world skills in communication, fundraising, marketing, and presenting young athletes professionally, so talent has a fighting chance to keep moving forward.

If you care about athlete development, junior motorsport, homeschooling for elite athletes, or the true cost of chasing MotoGP, this story will stick with you. Subscribe, share with someone who loves racing, and leave a review so these athletes’ stories travel further.

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Transcript

Season Four And The Real Costs

Host Nat Cook 0:04

Welcome to season four of the Price You Pay podcast, hosted by me, Matt Cook, five-time Olympian and gold medalist, alongside our star interviewer Sarah from Chatterbox Media. Through conversations with Aussie Athlete and recipients, we uncover what it truly takes to reach the highest echelon of sport in this country. We invite family and key members of the athletes' journey to round out the discussion, revealing hurdles like traveling up to 700 kilometres a week just for training as rural athletes, or the cost of international travel for a parent chaperone to accompany their child to a major competition. These families are committed to do whatever it takes to support their kids from the grassroots to the green and gold jerseys. Come along for the ride and listen in to what dreams are truly made of. And now over to our master conversationalist, Sarah.

Meet Jackson And Dad Glenn

Host Nat Cook 1:09

Woo!

Conversationalist Sarah 1:13

Our conversation today is with a 14-year-old Charmer and his dad, Glenn. Motorcycle athlete Jackson McDonald is the first Australian rider to ever be accepted into the Honda Racing School program in Japan. This is a big deal. In 2022, at only age nine, Jackson stepped on the road racing circuit with a confidence well beyond his years. Needing an age exemption to compete in his first FIM Mini GP Australia circuit, he had his eye on podiums from the very beginning, even though he was racing against 14-year-olds. By 2024, Jackson was setting race-lap records and claiming state championships. He has had five top 10 international finishes and is being mentored and coached by world-renowned specialists in the sport from Spain to Japan. Most recently, Jackson was granted another age exemption, which allowed him to race at the infamous Phillip Island against older, internationally ranked Australians. This is when invites from Japan started coming in and the ability to ride in Spain on the bigger size bikes started to happen. What a trajectory this young gun is on. Jackson is also a second Dan black belt in Taekwondo with multiple state and national championships to his name. But we will leave the Taekwondo laneway to his internationally renowned older sister, McKinsey. So welcome Jackson and Dad Glenn to the podcast. I hear you're all proficient in Taekwondo. So I do have this idea that you guys are very disciplined, Dad, and you must just, I don't know, meditate at the dinner table. Is that how it goes, Dad?

Dad Glen 2:49

Oh look, it's we have a very competitive family. So to have that Taekwondo background, um, I think it gives us a little bit of a level playing field, to be honest. And um, but there is times where it does get a little bit competitive. Um do you say just slightly? Yeah.

Conversationalist Sarah 3:08

I have heard. I have

Age Exemptions And Early International Racing

Conversationalist Sarah 3:09

heard. But Jackson, the thing I want to firstly know is you've done a lot of international travel for a 14-year-old. Was when you think about your life, I mean, it's funny to ask you because you're 14, but did you dream that this is what you would be doing in your teens, like traveling this much?

Athlete Jackson 3:27

I didn't think I'd be doing this when I first started racing. I only thought there was going to be only in Australia, but in my second year of racing, I was already heading up to Spain for my first international race.

Conversationalist Sarah 3:40

Oh wow, already. Yeah, wow. Like, do you ever think, you know, I have to admit, I I had to sort of get my head around this because I was researching that you got an age exemption, but then I thought to myself, there was no other Australian like in the entire country at age nine that was allowed to drive like you were. Have you ever thought of it like that? Like that's pretty crazy.

Athlete Jackson 4:08

Not really. I didn't let it like sort of sink in or get to me because being the youngest rider, I was up against taller, heavier, bigger riders and older. So obviously they had a bit of an advantage, but I didn't think of it like that. I thought that we're all even. So no matter the age, it's however much effort you put in is the results you get basically.

Conversationalist Sarah 4:37

Well said. I you know, because I have a 10-year-old, it made me really consider how incredible what you're doing. And like you're saying, you're just being you. So you're you're just like we're all even, which is why you're so competitive against them. So I did just think it might get you props at school, but that's we'll cover that later. So, Dad, I know you come from where we discussed taekwondo as um something that helps in terms of competitiveness. So I was quite curious how did Jackson start on a bike and start racing when it seemed like it was all about taekwondo?

Dad Glen 5:15

Yeah, look, so um very early days when I was racing, I was uh national and state champion in many different disciplines. But when I started working with KTM uh Australia, which I did for seven years, we had the opportunity to work with some really great riders and families. So when it came our time, you know, with my wife Christy and I to have children, we knew that you know it's more about them having their own identity, and we never pushed any sports. You know, we uh we've seen a lot of riders where, you know, I mean the parents have an idea where they would like them to be competitors or to race or compete, taekwondo. And we found that just letting them be themselves, like we had an idea of camping and fishing and doing all these sort of things, and McKenzie had a go at at dancing school, and she wanted something more dramatic, I guess. Um, but with with Jackson in particular, he was sort of not an early starter, but he was you know, started racing at at seven. Um and then he progressed from there, and it was all him, you know. We we never pushed any sports on any of our fam on our children and let them sort of you know create their own pathway. And I think that my background being motocross, um, which is more in the dirt discipline, and I didn't do road racing, and it was very um obvious, I guess, when he would come home from school and start watching road racing instead of the other disciplines, and I think also it was his way of creating his own journey, where it was something that I never did as a competitor, you know what I mean? So it it's it's it is his own journey, and yeah, it's what he chose to do.

Conversationalist Sarah 7:15

And Dad, what did you notice about him? Because you had that background um within your own success. What did you see in your own son that made you think, hmm, I think he's got something?

Dad Glen 7:26

Yeah, look, absolutely. It was just the little things that when he was like two and he was on these little bikes, these balanced bikes, and without training wheels, and then you know, I mean, three and four, and at three years old, he was already riding a little motorbike around the farm that we used just to get around, and his motor skills and all this was just so forthcoming and natural. And although I saw it, you know, I mean, as a parent, you don't want to be one of those parents that sort of wheel their cart, and where some some parents get an idea and they're like, Oh, he could be this or she could be that. And it was only when he started, you know, getting onto the BMX bikes and doing things at the BMX tracks that I don't or didn't normally see from kids at that age. And I'm just like, it got the mind, you know, I mean, pondering a little, um, but we still stayed quite reserved until he actually was the one who was forthcoming and said, Hey, I want to I want to ride a or race a motorbike. I'm just like, oh, okay, here we go. So yeah, it was very cool. Yeah, we just we just try to really just let them grow up and be themselves and and let them create their pathway, their journey, I guess.

Homeschooling For Travel And Life Skills

Conversationalist Sarah 8:48

And what did it feel like in your body, Jackson? Did you start to want to ride motorbikes more than you even wanted to go to school?

Athlete Jackson 8:57

When I first started riding out, like riding, school was just like another day, like some where you have to go, like work, for example. Like I'll just do that and ride on the weekends. But when I started racing road bikes, I started focusing more and more. And then a few years ago in 2024, we made the decision to start homeschooling, so then we can travel to all these places without the hassle of like attendance, even though I still have to do my school work like every other kid, I have the opportunity to travel and race at the same time.

Dad Glen 9:41

We found that excuse me, we found that um because of you know the international travel from both Mackenzie and Jackson, that the the homeschooling was a way that we could still get the education that we feel that children need, and it's something that we pride ourselves on as parents to make sure that our children have that type of education and flexibility. But the amount that Jackson learned just life skills, like when Jackson raced uh in Spain, you know, there was riders from England, Ireland, uh Russia, Italy, Spain, of course, and it was a huge list. So the multicultural, the language, um, and everything that the life skills that you know I mean opened that door was far more, you know, exceeded than than what the average child would get in everyday school.

Conversationalist Sarah 10:43

So 100%.

Dad Glen 10:45

Yeah, we were very lucky that because and that's we we did understand that was that he gets the social element um that you don't normally get from homeschooling, you know what I mean? We get the interaction because of the competitiveness, they're like-minded kids. Um, so it's it's a really good network of team, and the kids you know get along quite well. So, you know, we we find that some of the things that you don't normally get in you know normal school, I should I guess I call it compared to homeschool, is is huge.

Conversationalist Sarah 11:20

That is, yeah. I mean, I I can only imagine the incredible lessons, just even meeting people from different countries. That's how you really educate yourself. And when you said, Jackson, you said this uh thing about when I started focusing into um the road racing more.

Rider Vs Racer And Track Study

Conversationalist Sarah 11:39

I know I've seen you in this video sort of looking at a phone, and I think you're kind of doing maybe race strategy. I don't know if you're like sort of looking at the track, but when did you start to like really study the craft? And like, you know what I mean? Because I is there a difference between just riding and the strategy, Jackson? Is there something different about that?

Athlete Jackson 12:06

Absolutely, because there's a difference between a rider and a racer. The racer is the one that goes out of their way to put in the effort to win races, study the tracks, study the riders, the lap times, work with the team, but the rider is the one that just goes out there to ride and just ride around basically. So, what I was doing in that video that you saw was I was watching my qualifying to see where the other riders were faster or way, may have been slower in some areas, so then going into the race, I had a slight advantage, so I knew when to pass them or when to just stay behind them during the long straights at all.

Conversationalist Sarah 12:52

Wow. And I mean, Dad, like how is that not more effective than school? Just hearing him talk that way just sounds so interesting when I think about what schooling is versus what he just says. So incredible. So, okay, one more thing, Jackson. When I watched that video, I was also blown away with how on a lean you are, and your like knee is touching the track, and then I saw this video from a Red Bull racer or something, and his like shoulder was on the side. So my question is does is that like a natural feel, or do you kind of like work on that to get that much lean? What's that about?

Athlete Jackson 13:37

So that rider, you may have seen his name is Jorge Martin. We both have the same coach. So stop it. So as you see in the video, when the riders are either leaning with their elbow or their shoulder is they're trying to get the bike turned around the corners. So it's not like sitting up in the seat, you're actually having to push your body out as a counterbalance.

Conversationalist Sarah 14:07

And and is that just like a natural does that come naturally, or do you you like rep that? Do you have to like keep trying that?

Athlete Jackson 14:15

There's two ways. You can either do technical riding, so like riding in figure eights or just circles, learning to get your body lower and lower and lower to help corner the bike and find different speeds and different lines through the corners. And you've got the natural way where you just you grow up with the racing and you learn and look at the other riders with their knees down, and you try to do that, but you forget about all the other fundamentals like your feet working with your hips and your hands, shoulders, elbows, and all that. So whenever you go to different countries, you can see lots of different riding styles. Like in Japan, the riders sit very upright, but in Europe they're basically sleeping on the ground with their shoulders down.

Coaching In Spain And Japan

Dad Glen 15:08

So to add to that, um Sarah, so Jackson touched base on his Spanish coach with whose name is Chicho Lorenzo. So Chicho's son is five-time world motorcycle champion Jorge Lorenzo, and uh Chicho teaches a very unique uh method and where it's it is quite different to a lot of the traditional um motorcycle techniques that are used. And Jackson also mentioned about you know Jorge Martin. So um Jorge and Jackson, Jorge Martin, um and um Jackson have developed the same skills, um, and that's part of the reason. When we first went to Spain, we knew that that's the heartland uh of road racing, that's where everyone is ultimate dream is to be. So when we went over at such a young age, it's like when we knew that Jackson uh had probably wouldn't call it a gift, but he was talented on a bike, uh, and we sort of knew that his future was potentially outside of Australia. We then went over there, assessed, did the homework, and we worked out and aligned ourselves with people that we knew would make a difference. We aligned ourselves with uh coaches that we knew that could relate well to Jackson. Um, and one of them is Chicho Lorenzo in Spain, and our other coach and mentor is uh another gentleman, we call him Mr. Okada or Okada San. His real name is Tateuki Okada, and he was one of Mick Dorn's teammates um during his road racing era, and he is also the the the main instructor at Honda Racing School in Japan and and one of you know Jackson's uh mentors. So, you know, we've been very lucky that we have established a really good technique um that Jackson has. The way he reinforces that in Australia is that we have a a training pad which has got the same circles and lines that replicates exactly what Chicho Lorenzo has in Spain so that he can train every second day, or when he you know can fit it in, that instead of going traveling backwards and forwards to Spain, we have our facility here at home, and and you know, we can fit that in between online schooling, training on the bike, training off the bike, and rest. Um, so we're we're very lucky that we have set ourselves up in a way that we have a good foundation in Australia that also complements Spain and also the hardworking people and team that we have in Japan.

Conversationalist Sarah 18:02

Very oh, I love hearing all that. Dad, it's kind of like a dream for you too. I don't know. It sounds like just very cool. And I have to then wonder um, with everything you've just described, the travel, like all this, you know, like the online schooling, all the things required of a 14-year-old.

Paying For The Pathway

Conversationalist Sarah 18:24

But you, dad, as a like a business owner, I know that you own your own business. How do you pull all this off as a family? Because we haven't even really mentioned in this conversation the fact that your daughter is also um traveling internationally with your wife sometimes and with you. So, how do you pull it all off financially?

Dad Glen 18:48

The financial thing is a very tough thing, I think, in any of the sports, uh, especially motorsports. So, you know, we've got uh my wife, Christy, who is very good in the business sense of side of things that can help manage that. So we we split the duties between that and then I'm more the technical side to be able to look after Jackson. So Mackenzie is at an age now, so she's 16, where a lot of these events that she can travel internationally and nationally by herself with her team and her coach. Okay. Um, but with Jackson, because of the age and the nature of the sport that he competes in, that can be very high risk, but he's also young, so that I use a lot of my background to help mentor him as well. Um, and for instance, in Japan, it's a whole new culture, it's a whole new, you know, they're they're different people opposed to the Spanish. And what happens is that when we travel like that, we have to make the decision where we have to close the doors of our business, and there's no money coming in. So uh, you know, we we do our best where we can. Um, we're very lucky to have great uh donors you know who are donate donating and and helping us along the way. And uh, you know, that's the last two years we've had that. This year there's been nothing, you know. The economic side of things of Australia, unfortunately, has been impacted for it by a number of different things. Therefore, when it comes down to us, it's we have to work, we have to put in. We you know, our hours, you know, I mean, sometimes I could be working you know 18-hour days um to make up for you know, I mean, the loss of when the doors are closed or you know, donations are uh a little bit scarce. Um and we do we just have to we have to work, you know, it's there's nothing around it. But I I really feel that by the experience that we have learnt in Spain, um, it gives us a good foundation and platform to we know what we need to do. We are lucky that with Japan, and that's only come about of this year, and Jackson's results at Phillip Island. And you know, it's like, hey, who's this kid from Australia? Who's this 13-year-old that's doing what he's doing? And we have been very lucky because of writers like Wayne Gardner, uh Mick Dewan, um, and so forth that have had a really great relationship with the Japanese and and Honda in particular. So we are sort of like following that pathway that the Japanese have a good relationship. You know, we're in their oceana sort of um region, I guess we could call it, as far as time zone goes. And our next stepping stone is um the Moto4 Asia Telecom. Cup and that is the platform into the net stepping stone for Jackson into Moto getting closer to Moto GP.

Conversationalist Sarah 22:08

So are any of these money earning for Jackson? No, right? Because it's amateur.

Dad Glen 22:15

Nothing. So the the competition that we're doing in Japan at the moment is called Suzuka Sunday series, um, which is at the very iconic Suzuka circuit, under the watchful eyes of you know industry people like uh Honda, uh Honda Racing Corporation. And that's where we're starting to learn and feel our way there because that is the more traditional pathway, I guess we would call it, into the Moto 4 Asian talent cup. So yeah, but no.

Conversationalist Sarah 22:49

Did they pay for Jackson to be there at the Honda Racing? Like you have to pay for that?

Dad Glen 22:54

Yeah, as a family, we have to pay.

Conversationalist Sarah 22:57

And in terms of the Aussie Athlete Fund, has there been any kind of like in what way have you learned alternative earning methods? Because, like you just said, this year, you know, last year there was support, now there isn't. The I can, you know, the economy is changing. What's been the biggest maybe aha moment for you that have come from the Aussie Athlete Fund?

Dad Glen 23:22

The

Aussie Athlete Fund And Fundraising Reality

Dad Glen 23:23

Aussie Athlete Fund is something that has really opened up our eyes in a number of different ways. Uh, not only from the the financial uh learning and experience and dealing with companies uh and and marketing, but also for both McKenzie and Jackson, it's about communicating with people. It's the social media side of things, you know, it's the presentation, it's the delivery of you know our children are as a marketable product. Uh, and then with that as well as the there's the fundraising side of things that's definitely helped us out as well. There's the great Aussie um barbecue uh challenge, which we love that because you know we we love our sausages. I think we eat a lot probably a little bit too many, but you know, I mean the Aussie Athlete Fund, it's there's there's so many key elements to that pathway and you know, the funding, it's the communication, it's the building of of a of an athlete, taking them to that next level. And uh and Nat is fantastic at that, you know. Like I've been very fortunate, you know, when the the opportunity came about, I've done a lot of done a lot of research and particular on Nat and her. She's just so infectious with her enthusiasm and her drive. It's just like, hey, you know, it's there's a lot to be taken away from that woman because she she's just just so inspiring, to be honest.

Conversationalist Sarah 24:57

It it also makes me think about when you homeschool, and Jackson, maybe because I I know this was a little bit more with your sister, but you start to tack on a little bit like a business degree gets or an entrepreneurial degree gets tacked on to your sport because I think that there's a point where you don't even realize that it takes money to do it, you know, you're just doing what you love and you're really focusing in on your techniques and all the the things that you do, and then all of a sudden there's this realization like, oh, money is required to do this. And I think that's what I love about what the Aussie Athlete fund. And I think Nat just had to do that in her own career, Jackson. She had to at one point realize, oh, the the mom and dad shop is closed, and now I have to become an entrepreneur. So um, and and that might come in a couple years for you. I don't know if if it's happening already, but from your perspective, Jackson, um while dad is like figuring out his sausage sizzle and his money that he's gonna bring, um, what's your mindset before a

Pre-Race Routine And Big Dreams

Conversationalist Sarah 26:04

race? Because I know you've had some amazing results lately. Um can you like pinpoint what you're thinking about before a race or even the hour before? What's it like for you? Just I'd love a snapshot of that.

Athlete Jackson 26:20

Well, the hour before the race, um, probably getting my gear on, warming up. I mainly warm up with like tennis balls, like throwing against the wall, reaction times, so like I'm prepared for when the lights go out, um stretching. Sometimes I listen to a little bit of music, but not many, like not much anymore. But it's mainly stayed the same since I first started racing and I'm mainly pretty relaxed.

Conversationalist Sarah 26:55

Yeah, cool. What about uh okay? This is just because I watch the F1 Netflix series and there's always like this silence just before is it a gun that goes off or the lights change for you? What happens?

Athlete Jackson 27:08

So the lights go on red and then they go off. So then that's when everyone goes.

Conversationalist Sarah 27:16

Okay, so the lights go red and then they go off, and then you're allowed to go.

Athlete Jackson 27:20

Yeah.

Conversationalist Sarah 27:22

Would you say that you're quiet in your head as that's happening?

Athlete Jackson 27:27

Uh a little bit, a little bit nervous, not sure what's gonna happen, but you have to stay pretty focused for the first turn.

Conversationalist Sarah 27:36

So okay, so you you might be going saying something about the first turn or focus for the first turn or something like that.

Athlete Jackson 27:43

Yeah.

Conversationalist Sarah 27:43

Fascinating. Yeah, thank you for that. I just thought I was quite curious um about what get yeah, what the mind's doing, and um, so thank you for that. All right, so lastly, Jackson, I have you're very mature by the way. Um, you get us excited for the potential 14-year-olds. Um what is your weight racing dream? Like, what's the ultimate for you?

Athlete Jackson 28:11

It's a pretty big gob to be a nine, ten-time Moto GP world champion.

Conversationalist Sarah 28:16

Okay. Where'd you get those numbers? Nine or ten?

Athlete Jackson 28:20

Like where what made you think of that many times? I want to be the best there is. I want to be better than all my idols and be an inspiration to all the riders coming through and being renowned worldwide.

Conversationalist Sarah 28:36

And why is that important to you to be an inspiration to other writers?

Athlete Jackson 28:41

Well, I want to show that anything's possible if you're determined and put in the hard work.

Conversationalist Sarah 28:47

I love it. Here, yeah. This is I just watched the um Michael Jackson um movie, and he also had greatest of all time. Like he was very much about manifesting really big goals and doing things that had never been done before. And you just reminded me, oh, that's hilarious. Your name's Jackson. Didn't even pick up that bit. Um, but I love your focus, I love your determination, and I'm very inspired. So you've already inspired me through what you've already achieved. Dad, thank you so much for what you're bringing to the table. And and you really see how important dad is in this picture because, like his experiences, his willingness to support you, Jackson, your entire family is an inspiration. So thank you so much, boys. Appreciate it.

Dad Glen 29:39

Thank you.

How To Support The Mission

Host Nat Cook 29:45

And that's a wrap on another episode of the Price You Pay podcast. We hope these stories move you to want to be part of these athletes' journeys. It is our mission at the Aussie Athlete Fund to create a sustainable funding model to support our athletes for both their financial well-being and the education to stimulate their own localised economy. To get involved, please visit our website at www.aussieathletfund.com and choose your impact. Whether that's as a corporate partner, teaming up with an athlete in our Million Dollar Challenge, buying a supporter's jersey, or signing up to host a great Aussie Athlete barbecue. Sharing the fund's mission or even an episode of this podcast is how we grow and expand the reach to better support these young athletes. Pressing the follow button means that you won't miss an episode. And giving us a great review is how these athletes' stories travel further afield. Be listening for the next captivating story of what it truly takes for these Aussie athletes to live their sporting dreams.