SWINDON’S up and coming motorbike racer, Charlie Nesbitt, has been crowned 2013 Nitro Newcomers champion in the ultra-competitive Aprilia Superteens Championship.

No sooner had the 12-year-old stepped off his bike when he was snapped up by a top team in the British Superbike racing paddock.

Nesbitt has been racing bikes for most of his life and since 2006 has taken victory in three British Championships as well as a third place in the Spanish Catalan Championship, which has been the breeding ground for world-class riders such as Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez and Scott Redding.

This year, Nesbitt exceeded all expectations by finishing third overall in his rookie season in the Thundersport Aprilia Superteen Championship, which produced top riders Casey Stoner and Cal Crutchlow, and wrapped up the Nitro Newcomer Championship with three rounds left to go. In addition, he broke two lap records at two circuits that had previously stood for more than five years.

Now the young flyer has taken another step closer to realising his dream of becoming a MotoGP rider, like mentor Redding, by signing for the Repli-Cast Racing Team in 2014. He will be racing a Honda GP125cc Race bike in the Monster MotoStar Championship that supports the prestigious BSB Championship.

His new team manager, Gary Dawson, said: “When you get a rider recommended like Charlie, from riders such as Scott Redding and Fraser Rogers, then you know you’re heading in the right direction and we look forward to working with Charlie. Bring on 2014.”

Nesbitt is equally excited about next year’s challenge.

The youngster said: “It’s been an awesome year for me and I’d like to thank all my sponsors Swindon Electrical, Swindon Heating Services, Minimoto Racing, my dad and my family for getting me this far.

“Now I’m just really looking forward to riding my new bike and being a part of a professional team.”