Last updated at 22:35, Thursday, 08 July 2010

A WORKINGTON youngster has won the ACU junior British Grasstrack Championship.

STARTING YOUNG: Eight-year-old Kyle Bickley, of Workington, has won the ACU British Grasstrack Championship for his age group

Motorsport prodigy Kyle Bickley, eight, of Westfield, beat off competition from 15 of the best riders in the country to claim victory on Saturday.

Young Bickley, who only started racing last July, competed in five races and was proclaimed overall winner at Ashton in Chester.

The trophy is the crowning glory so far of his already impressive silverware collection.

Mum Ann-Marrie said: “It was so unbelievable. I was crying.

“I just can’t put into words how proud he has made me in the 12 months since he started.

“We can’t believe what he has achieved in such a small space of time and hopefully he will keep all the hard work up.”

Dad Tony said: “He just goes with the flow but he was a bit nervous and excited at first.”

The next step for Bickley is to compete on a bigger bike - the KTM 65.

Bickley’s ambition is to represent the country and compete in the Speedway Grand Prix.

This year he has raced in the U10s speedway – a new category. Riders previously had to be 16 or over to race.

Bickley, of Sarsfield Road, got his first taste of riding when he was two years old and got a quad bike.

Motorbike racing runs in the Bickley family.

Bickley’s grandfather Paul, of Westfield, was a top international sidecar racer until two years ago, and his great-grandfather also competed in the sport.

Bickley’s great-uncle competed in speedway in the 1980s at Glasgow and Workington before taking to grass track racing himself.

The Bickleys thanked friends and family for their support.

They also thanked sponsors J Edgar & Son, of Dunmail Park, Gordon Tyre, Simpson Racing UK, Nitro, First Image, Gates Tyres, Howdens, PD Newsagents, Reisswolf, Wulfsport, Mucoff and Black Diamond Web Design.

Meanwhile, Bickley’s website – www.kylebickley. com – has attracted nearly 3,000 visitors.

First published at 19:27, Thursday, 08 July 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk