Young motorbike racer Ethan Sparks continues to excel after moving up a class in the Mini Cool Fab Championship.

The nine-year-old, from Maidstone, tops the standings halfway through the Mini GP50 series.

He takes on kids up to four years older but that doesn’t faze Loose schoolboy Sparks, who has won six races since the season started at the end of July.

There were fears he’d broken his foot following an accident at the last round but, after getting the all-clear, he went back on the track and won the final two races of the meeting.

“This is supposed to be his rookie year in this class but he’s winning races and leading the British Championship again,” said dad Gavin, who praised organisers for their efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“He’s won the Mini Motos, and is still racing in that, but the Mini GP50 is basically a full-blown race bike with six gears.

“It’s completely unexpected to be leading the championship because most of the other kids have already done it last year and they’re all 12 and 13, whereas Ethan’s only nine.

“He had a crash at the round just gone and we thought he’d broken his foot.

“He was taken to the medical centre and deemed OK to ride, so he carried on with the rest of the weekend and won the next two races.

“It’s a very close championship - the top six are separated by 0.2sec, so it’s fine margins.

“It’s a fantastic championship because in terms of motorcycle racing, up to the early 80s, Barry Sheene’s time, it was really popular, but it died a death a little bit.

"But it’s coming back because they’re putting a lot into it for the kids.

“There’s the British Talent Cup which runs at British Superbike Championship rounds and they pick riders out of that to go to World Championship and Grands Prix, so they’re really trying to bring the children through.

“It’s a demanding sport and a dangerous sport but it’s very rewarding.

“To see the concentration and determination of all the kids, it’s a really good learning curve for them.”

The next round takes place this weekend in Great Yarmouth.

Sparks would like to thank J&S Motorcycle Accessories and Wadhams Fitness Training for their sponsorship.

If anyone would like to help with sponsorship, email gavinsparks1976@hotmail.co.uk.

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