Teenage champion Ben on fast track to success Supermoto

A supermoto academy champion is on the fast-track to greater success in the sport after being selected for a top team.

Canterbury Academy pupil Ben Bayfield, the Auto-cycle Union (ACU) Norasport British academy class champion of 2018, has been asked to join leading supermoto team Fat n Fast after his riding ability was noticed by new British supermoto Michelin elite open champion Richard Blakeman and his team.

The accolade came at the ACU awards ceremony held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham when Ben was approached to join the team, where he will be able to practise with Blakeman and the sport’s Jamie Duncan and James Taylor.

Supermoto riders take their bikes across flat dirt tracks, over obstacles as in motocross and on regular road surfaces and the ACU is the sport’s governing body.

The move will see Ben, 15, leave the youth section for the Lites class, where he will ride his Husqvarna 250cc.

The British Supermoto championship made a return to the Lydden Hill circuit last May after several years’ absence.

P h i l R e l f, Ca n t e r b u r y Academy’s director of sport, said: “It’s fantastic that Ben has been announced as the new rider for the Fat n Fast supermoto team.

“This is an amazing opportunity for Ben to ride and train with the best riders in the UK.

“The team lead is the current elite champion and his new team-mate, Jamie Duncan, is a Scottish elite rider.

“We are proud to have supported Ben in his pursuit of supermoto and look forward to watching his progress in the sport.”

Ben is looking for sponsorship and firms or individuals who may be able to help him are asked to visit the Facebook page Ben Bayfield #987 Racing, or email karen.bayfield@tiscali.co.uk.