WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE motocross ace Lee Dunham is looking to create history this year.
The 25-year-old is aiming to become the first rider to win both the IMBA MX2 European Championship and AMCA MX2 British Championship in successive seasons.
Dunham became the first person in 17 years to win both titles in a fine 2009 and, despite offers elsewhere, he has decided to try and retain his titles in 2010.
He said: “Three people have done what I did last year and no-one has ever done it twice in a row.
“It will be extremely hard work, but I am prepared to put in whatever it takes to do it.
“I have been working now for two months with my coach and also my nutritionist to build the best physical and mental state I can before the season starts. I really hope it all pays off.”
The mechanic, who works alongside his father Mike at the Tetbury motor centre, started motocross at six-years-old and has worked his way up through the ranks to the standard he is at now.
Although not keen on going full-time, Dunham revealed that he would like to take on a new challenge if he achieves his goals this year and would consider competing in other Championships elsewhere.
“It would be nice to have a new challenge, a new goal and some new scenery but we still have a huge year in front of us.
“I’ll be 150 per cent concentrating on 2010 before any decisions are made.”
“The IMBA European Motocross Championship is made up of countries around Europe, each country entering their top five riders.
Dunham was selected as a wildcard for Great Britain in a European Championship race for the first time in 2005 and finished fourth in the home race at Bridgnorth.
Finishing in the top five in the British Championships that year enabled him to qualify to take part in his first full European season in 2006 and he has since travelled to places such as France, Germany and Holland, where he clinched his title last year.
He said: “I was absolutely drained, I crossed the finish line to my Great Britain team leader, Colin Price, covering me in champagne.”
The AMCA MX2 British Championship was won at Norley in Cheshire two weeks later.
He said: “It was my ambition to win this championship from when I was a schoolboy, I’ve always looked upon it as a target.
“It was such a fantastic feeling crossing the line, something I’ll never forget.”
For a decade, Dunham has ridden for Manufacturer Kawasaki Motors UK.
In the last two years he has been part of Motoxtreme Kawasaki, in Marshfield, but now will be running out of the Maxxis Henderson LPE Kawasaki UK team.
He added: “We have the same goals and it’s a full professional motocross team.
“I’m really excited and looking forward to the new season.”
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