THORNBURY motorcyclist Dylan Roberts is aiming for an overall podium finish in a national championship after securing a big result in the first round this month.

Roberts, 27, has been riding motorcycles for the past five years, having claimed titles and podiums in a number of club championships, but hopes this year will be the season to prove himself against some of the country’s best.

Racing this year in the North Gloucestershire Road Racing Championships, a deceptively titled national series of races, Roberts has shown his worth after walking away from the first event at Brands Hatch, near Dartford, with two fourth place finishes. 

An impressive feat especially given he only been to the track once before.

“It is great to see the time and effort being put in is paying off,” said Roberts.

“Fourth place is a great way to start the season, and put a marker down for the races to come.”

An expensive sport, each weekend of the eight race championship, costs around £1,000 to enter, as well as the costs of keeping his Superstock Yamaha R6 running.

“I have some great support behind me this year,” said Roberts of his team – dad Trevor and support team-sponsors Colin Barratt of Colin Barratt Courier Services, Luke Higton of Elite Tyre and Autocare, and Byron Baker Brown of Channel Kayaks.

“Their backing gives me a lot of confidence on and off the track. Without their financial support, the dream wouldn’t be possible.”

In order to boost his fitness for the campaign, Roberts is also training with his sister Taryn to complete an Iron Man triathlon later in the year.

“Racing bikes is an extremely physical sport, a lot tougher than people realise.

“Every time I race, I am wrestling a 170kg bike around corners up to speeds of 175mph. If I don’t put the hours into training, I wouldn’t last five laps at that speed.”

Having raced in the 600cc category for the entire of his competitive career, Roberts has said he hopes to step it up a gear and race 1,000cc events next year.

“The 1,000cc events are the blue riband event of motorcycle racing, so I would love to take the chance, step up and make a mark there.

“But while I am looking ahead to next year in that sense, my focus right now is totally on a top three place this year.

“It’s a long season so I need to put everything into what I am doing in this moment.

“The next race is Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. It is a track I know really well so I am hoping to better my last result and end up on the podium.”