SWINDON teenager Charlie Nesbitt is eyeing up his next career challenge after a year which saw the youngster claim the British Motostar Moto3 Championship.

The 15-year-old had been racing in the discipline for two years and it proved third time lucky when he finished top of the standings at the end of the the 2016 campaign.

After racing on a 70cc bike in 2012, the youngster stepped up to the British Thundersport Aprilia Challenge, where he scooped third place and best overall newcomer.

One season was enough for Nesbitt before he moved again, to the British Motostar Moto3 Championship with the E3 Motorsport/Redline KTM team.

His first season saw him finish in seventh, before improving to six in the 2015 campaign.

However, things were worth the wait for the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy pupil as he clinched the title in dramatic fashion this year.

“This year has been really good, I have loved every single second and the team I was with were amazing, really. They supported me with everything I needed to do,” said Nesbitt.

“I didn’t really expect to do this. I went into the season thinking I could do quite well and hoped for the championship, but everyone does.

“I learned it’s important to win but when the race isn’t going as you planned or something goes wrong, you need to stay strong, keep going and stay with your rhythm.”

In 2017, it is time for Nesbitt to take another step up in the world of motor racing as he prepares to enter the World Junior Championships in Spain.

The youngster will have to contest a total of 11 different races on eight different tracks, including Barcelona, Le Mans and Valencia.

Nesbitt has already had a taste of what is to come when he took part in the final two races in the Moto3 World Junior Championships in Valencia.

The youngster fared well, finishing ninth in qualifying with a new team and bike, as well as an unfamiliar track.

Despite this, Nesbitt is more than aware that the level of competition will be much greater than what he is used to.

“I’m really looking forward to it (Moto3 JWC). It should be really good for next year,” added Nesbitt “It’s going to be proper hard next year – I know that, everyone knows that. The level is faster than the GP. It’s going to be really hard for me next year but I think I’ll be alright.

“I wouldn’t be going into it if I didn’t think I could do well. It’s not worth it otherwise."

In preparation for this year’s championships, the 15-year-old has already begun training, going to the gym in a bid to maintain his fitness and lose weight.

But he refuses to be drawn into setting personal targets for next year when he travels to Spain.

“I’ve not really thought about targets yet. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to be in the top five after the first two rounds,” he added.

“But I think if I can get some podiums next year, that would be really really good.

In the longer term, Nesbitt would like to reach a point where his racing pays for itself as the youngster has to raise over £170,000 for next season.

He said: “The absolute dream for me would be to be in the Moto GP World Championships. That is where I would want to be as the racing pays for itself.

“It’s a hard thing to do to try and find sponsorship, especially racing abroad, because you can ask British companies but they don’t benefit from it being out in Spain.”