A YOUNG minibike racing champion is revving up for a career as a professional motorcyle racer.

Eleven year old Samuel Munson from Freshbrook won the Cool FAB British Minibike Championship in the rookie category last year, coming first in 15 out of 24 races.

He is already excited about the approaching race season and thinks with a bit more experience he could go pro.

This year he will compete in two new categories, the pros and the elites on more faster and powerful bikes but Samuel has big ambitions, dreaming of one day performing at a global level.

He said: I want to progress and learn more gears, then I can go onto MOTO GP level, which is like Formula One when I’m older. Slowly and surely I probably will get there.”

Samuel, who was nicknamed the Munson Burner by one of the race commentators last year said he was happy about winning the championship, adding: “I was overwhelmed, I had my whole family there to support me, it really was great.

“I like racing because you actually have to put effort in, you learn new skills and it takes practice. It is also quite interesting learning about engineering and how the bike works.

“Plus I’ve made lots of new friends through racing and it’s great a lot of fun being able to compete along side them.”

In the next season Samuel will compete on his new bike, a GRC RR 40cc Liquid Cooled Mini Moto for the elite category and on his old bike for the pro category.

He is looking forward to the new challenge: “I’m feeling confident about the pros, but I’m still trying to get a handle of my new bike.

“It is so fast, I’m just not used to it yet. I’ve got to focus and challenge myself to get round each corner faster than I did last time without crashing, so lots more practice.”

His dad Steve said he was proud of what the boy had achieved: “We weren’t expecting him to be competing, it was just a bit of fun on a Sunday.

“But it’s amazing that we’re getting this opportunity because its not that well known or people say ‘Oh that’s so dangerous’ but it’s a very controlled and safe environment.”

“I’m proud as punch because it’s matured him as sportsman. Of course winning is the ultimate goal when you’re racing but its also about learning to be gracious in winning and defeat.”

He added: “He’s made a completely new circle of friends, outside of the neighbourhood and school. It’s great because on track they are competing but off track, everyone gets on so well.

“The parents have become team mechanics and we all have our own kids racing, but if something goes wrong we all pull together, it’s like a big family.”

The next season will start on March 29 at South Wales Karting Centre in Llandow.

If any local businesses would like to sponsor Samuel for the upcoming season go to Facebook at SamuelMunsonRacing or email: steve@studios-cs.co.uk