MOTORHEAD teens are learning the art of road safety under the watchful eyes of a motorbike champion.

Yesterday, under a baking hot sun Stratton-boy Rob Fox taught lads from the Oakfield Project and Green Labyrinth how to fix motor scooters.

He also gave the teens a taste of an unusual sport called Moto Gymkhana, which sees them ride the bikes round tight corners on a hot concrete playground in Nythe.

Rob, 44, helps young people develop mechanical skills and safety knowledge with his road safety scheme Wheels Workshop. The project, which is supported by Swindon Borough Council and the Oakfield Project, aims to prepare young people for the road well before they take their tests.

“I’m trying to prevent these lads from getting a road ban at 15. So, when they’re 16 and they get an apprenticeship somewhere like Wootton Bassett, they can get there.”

Rob teaches teens how vehicles work, training them in basic mechanics and enabling them to maintain their motorbike or car. As a reward for their classroom efforts, Rob trains them in how to ride their bikes safely.

Yesterday afternoon, two lads from the Green Labyrinth project were being rewarded with a ride around the Moto Gymkhana track after three sessions spent repairing bikes.

Abby Large of Green Labyrinth said: “I’m dealing with kids who are very close to being not in education, employment or training (NEET). This is getting them doing something they like – that they think is awesome.

“It builds their confidence and I think Rob’s enthusiasm rubs off on them.”

Keen motorcyclist Rob, who now lives with his young family in Wanborough, grew up riding with the North Gloucestershire motorcycling club before discovering the quirky sport of Moto Gymkhana.

The unusual pastime originated in Japan over 30 years ago, before being imported into Britain. It sees motorcyclists tear around a circuit – with coloured cones instructing motorcyclists to twist their bikes around tight corners.

“I used to be a club racer. But when my baby came along, suddenly I felt I wasn’t disposable.

“I’ve now been British champion in Moto Gymkhana for the last two years.”

Rob, who grew up in Stratton, wants to give the lads who come on his courses the same encouragement that he received from his parents as a young rider keen on mechanics.

“They don’t have that,” he said. “And they don’t generally have a lot of confidence.”

He has pushed the youngsters who attend his courses to try work experience at large garages.

“These lads struggle at school. But they go into a really good grown up work environment with people who all have training and say that you really do need to go back to college and learn about things like air bags."

To find out more about Wheels Workshop, visit: www.wheelsworkshop.org.