Yate teen's dream of becoming top motorcycle racer (From Gazette Series)

Yate teen's dream of becoming top motorcycle racer

9:30am Tuesday 6th October 2009

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A FAMILY from Yate is going full throttle to help fulfil their biker son’s dream of becoming a top motorcycle racer.

Danny Hedger, 17, is the eldest of three brothers from Yate who are hoping to make it in the adrenaline-fuelled world of British Superbikes.

Riding a Yamaha R6, Danny has successfully competed in three races in the Superstock 600 class this year, but a lack of sponsorship and funding has brought him to the end of the road.

His mum Julie, 34, said: "It costs so much to compete we can’t go on at the moment.

"This year it was just us funding him and Danny was against a lot of teams who had technicians and engineers. For us, it was just Danny and his dad Lee."

She added: "It would cost about £25,000 for him to race a full season. We get through about £800 each race weekend just on tyres."

Danny had to pull out of competing this season much to the disappointment of his mum and dad and brothers Luke, 13, and Max, five.

The family has given up hours of their time to support Danny and turned their garage, at home in Dursley Close, into a workshop and repair centre.

"Danny has given his all to the sport," said Julie. "Our lives do revolve around bikes and I do get nervous watching him race but we enjoy it.

"It is Danny’s dream and he doesn’t want to do anything else."

Danny, a former pupil at King Edmund Community School, has been racing since he was a toddler starting out on mini-motors. He eventually worked his way up to British Champion in 2007 and then started racing smaller motorbikes.

He said: "I started when I was two. You get a really good adrenaline rush from it and it is exciting."

His inspiration comes from dad Lee, 37, who never raced but has nurtured a love of biking all his life.

"Danny has the potential to do this at the top level but we are not ready," said Lee, a carpet fitter. "We need a team to help us.

"Obviously we would put money into it ourselves. We don’t want a free ride but we need a bit of help along the way."

Danny has been offered a place with Quelch Racing, which would see him train in Europe and compete in televised races on circuits across the UK but the family needs to find sponsorship for next season.

A regular ‘biker’s night’ will be held at The Fleece in Hillesley, thanks to the support of Simon Stephens but local businesses in Yate and Chipping Sodbury are being urged to give Danny a chance at his dream.

To help the Hedgers contact Julie on 07877 503939 or email dhedger92@live.co.uk

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