AN UP and coming motorbike racer from Yate is competing at circuits across the country as he aims to achieve his ambition of riding professionally.

Matt Andrew, 19, is currently in his first competitive season and raced at Donington Park recently and is set to race at Brands Hatch this weekend.

He is a member of the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club, which organises races up and down the country, and is currently ninth out of 35 riders aboard a Honda MT125-R in the Post Classic 125 Piston port Championship where he is competing against former 350cc World and British champions.

Andrew’s best finish so far was sixth at Darley Moor, and in his most recent meeting at Donington, he finished 13th in one of the races after starting 26th on the grid.

That was after he recovered from his first crash when he was cut up on a corner and did a cartwheel across the track and into the gravel.

Three years ago Andrew travelled around the World with World Superbike Championship rider Tom Tunstall, who was sponsored by his dad’s company, Mills CNC, and Andrew’s enthusiasm for racing bikes has grown ever since.

“I would love to do it as a career. I’m putting a lot of time, effort and money into it,” said Andrew.

“I am having fun at the moment learning how to ride the bike on the track rather than the road.”