DELABOLE’s Charlie Tilley has finished fourth in his first season in the AC40 Rookies class in the Cool FAB Racing British Minibike Championship.

The eight year-old first got on a bike at the age of five, thanks to his father, Daniel, who used to race himself.

With no tracks in Devon and Cornwall, the Tilley’s regularly go to places such as Kinsham Raceway in Hereford and M4 Karting, which is in Chippenham.

It was at M4 Karting where Charlie started to learn the ropes before they joined the AC40 Rookies Class ahead of the 2016 season which sees most boys compete between the ages of six and 11 with 40cc air cooled motors while the exhausts are restricted to 10mm.

Despite struggling to begin with, Charlie quickly found his feet, finishing fourth on 306.5 points.

Daniel said: “At the start of the season Charlie really struggled. But we’ve put a lot of time in to him and we’ve started to see the rewards of that now. He managed to finish fourth in the end, which is really good. In the last two events at Red Lodge and Mallory Park he managed to get two thirds and two fourths and we were really happy with that.”

When asked about Charlie’s strengths and weaknesses, Tilley Senior admitted that there were a couple of things they’ll be working on.

Daniel said: “At the moment he’s progressing into a really smooth rider, that’s something you either have or you don’t and fortunately Charlie does have that. But we also want to work on his overtaking and just continue to keep getting better.”

Next year Charlie will move up into the LC40 class, which will see his exhaust restrictor increased by 4mm up to 14mm, meaning he will use a bike with twice the power.

Daniel has already organised a trip to Spain in the New Year for Charlie to do some testing and get his preparations underway for the 2017 season.

Charlie like many of his colleagues has high ambitions. The Delabole Primary School pupil wants to go to the very top.

Daniel said: “Next year Charlie is moving up a class which has a faster bike. We need to make sure he’s ready for that, but I’m sure he will be. We’re going to Spain to do some preparation and testing. But the good thing is he’s willing to put the work in and is dedicated. Like all youngsters into this sort of thing, he wants to make it as a Moto GP star although that’s along way away yet.”

Having a busy schedule does have its drawbacks, though his improved performances have led to his primary school taking a keener interest.

Daniel added: “It can be a tricky balance. Some of the testing days are on school days but as his results have got better the school are showing a big interest in it.

“Charlie and I are both really competitive so we want to do as well as we can although it’s a big shame that there’s no track around here to practice in. That means we often have to drive two or three hours to get some training in but we both love it, so that’s what we’ve got to do.”