Simon speeds to success like a rebel with a cause (From Gazette Series)

Simon speeds to success like a rebel with a cause

SPEEDWAY star Simon Walker is looking forward to his first full season as a professional rider after clinching deals to appear for two top teams.

The Hawkesbury Upton flyer will be riding for Premier League side Somerset Rebels and Conference League team Swindon Sprockets in what promises to be a defining year for the youngster as he realises his speedway dream.

Walker, 24, has been involved with the sport for three years having excelled as a world class motocross rider, and the forthcoming season will be his first as a full-time professional.

The 2004 speedway season commences on March 19 and, for Walker, riding at Premier League level is a dream come true.

As he said: "I've really jumped up to this level and didn't think I'd make it at this stage of my career and, really, I'm quite surprised by it. It was hard to believe at first, and it has come over such a short period of time - it's come quickly for me.

"The season starts soon and I still don't really know what to make of it and can't wait."

The jump up to Premier League riding after just three seasons of action has been the highlight of Walker's short speedway career. Having been offered a contract with the Rebels last year, he officially joined the team on December 20 and makes his debut in a challenge match against Newport in two weeks' time. In addition, Walker will also be appearing for Swindon Sprockets in the semi-professional Conference League, where he will be the team's number one rider.

The Sprockets are the second team for Elite League giants Swindon Robins, and Walker will find himself racing at the renowned Abbey Stadium in Swindon, one of the leading circuits in the country.

The young rider has hardly ever been out of the saddle in his life. Bristol-born, he took up motocross at the tender age of eight and has hardly looked back. Blossoming into a leading motocross expert, Walker turned professional at 16 and has been a full-time rider ever since. Relocating to the USA in order to gain better experience, he became a renowned rider in America and lived overseas for three years. He even went to the Motocross World Championships where, bizarrely, he represented USA on the biggest stage of all. This experience has proved to be unforgettable for Walker, and he said: "That was very strange. Riding for America brought me a kind of respect, and I was treated totally differently. It was really weird - mindblowing really.

"We went over to Croatia to ride and this was an unbelievable experience, to be in a country where a war was going on. The people were very friendly, and it was one of those things you'll never forget."

In 2001, Walker decided to try his hand at speedway and his first taste of action was with Conference League side Newport Mavericks. During the 2002 season, in addition to riding for the Mavericks, Walker began his association with the Sprockets, appearing in the Conference Trophy and feeling the thrill of the sport at the large Swindon stadium.

It proved to be a match made in heaven, as he explained: "I just fell in love with speedway. Everything is reversed from motocross, and its basically racing without any brakes. But speedway is really big, and has a really good following, with fans travelling everywhere with the team just to see the riders in action. It's gob-smacking."

Walker chose to ride for the Sprockets for the 2003 season after being granted a full transfer, and also appeared for the Cornwall-based Trelawny Pitbulls as he gained more and more experience of riding at Conference level.

Then, at the end of last season and after a highly impressive year with the Pitbulls and the Sprockets, a first ever full-time team spot was offered to Walker as Somerset Rebels promoter Peter Toogood offered him a place in his side. Walker now has the number seven spot at the Rebels as his first ever season as a professional beckons. Although he will divide his time between the Rebels and the semi-professional Sprockets, Walker maintains that both teams are as important as each other to him. He said: "My policy is to win no matter what it takes, and no matter who I'm riding for. I want to make the fans happy and put in my best possible performance every time."

The dawn of Walker's professional career may be just weeks away but, for now, the Hawkesbury youngster is just grateful to those who have helped him in his career as a rider so far and, of course, to those who will be there with him in the future. As he said: "I want to say thank you to everybody who has helped me - family, friends and sponsors - and can't wait to get started."