Up-and-coming Lydd motorcycle racer Wayne Ryan had his first taste of competing on a 125cc Grand Prix-type machine last weekend when he borrowed the spare Honda of his TAG Racing team mate Shaun Winfield to contest the EMRA Club event at Mallory Park.

Not wanting to risk damaging the bike that Winfield will need for his forthcoming British Championship outing at Snetterton next weekend, there were understandably no heroics from Ryan as he familiarised himself with the notably faster and considerably lighter machine compared to his usual Formula 125 Aprilia steed.

Nevertheless despite only having his first-ever ride on the bike in morning qualifying Ryan acquitted himself extremely well to grow in confidence throughout the day, and although he made a few novice mistakes in his races the recently turned 13-year-old twice brought the bike safely home in very creditable 11th and ninth places within a competitive field.
The youngest-ever winner of an Aprilia Superteen race when he recorded victory on his road-racing debut at Cadwell Park in May last year, Ryan has already won races at Brands Hatch and Pembrey this year and currently holds third position in the Thundersport GB-organised Aprilia Superteen series.

Supported by his foster parents Paul and Emma Arter with whom he has lived since he was six and whose road-racing son Luke whetted Ryan’s appetite for speed, the youngster’s next race action will be at Donington Park later this month when rounds of the Aprilia Superteen Championship will feature at Britain’s only World Superbike meeting of 2009.