AN AVID motocross racer who travels all over the country to compete in competitions has been nominated for a Young Champions award.

Jack Worth, 13, of Bedford Street, Barnsley, has been motocross racing since he was six, after asking his parents for a motocross bike. Before he could get his bike, his mum, Claire Gall, set him a task.

She said: “Ever since Jack was young he has had a passion for all things wheels. He asked for a motocross bike yet he couldn’t ride an actual bike so I set him the task to learn to ride his bike without stabilisers. He went to Locke Park one afternoon with his dad and when he returned he could ride without stabilisers.

“We brought him a motocross bike that was a fixer upper and since then he has never looked back. He began motocross racing in Doncaster and we initially thought as soon as he fell off his bike and hurt himself that would be it. But he would fall and get straight back up.

“Jack always pushes himself, he shows respect to his fellow racers as he’s aware of how difficult and dangerous the sport is. Win or lose he will shake your hand afterwards for a job well done. It’s an individual sport and he travels all over the country competing.

“Jack hates to see people miss riding bikes, and is frustrated when people can’t see racing as a dedicated sport. He tries to educate others about motor sport, that it is a sport and you need to have the right safety equipment and only ride legal tracks.

“While other boys his age are playing Xbox Jack is in the garage. He cleans and maintains his bikes himself with a little help from his chief mechanic, his dad. Once he’s confident the bike is ready for race day he spends time in the gym getting himself bike fit.

“He is training hard this season as he is moving to a larger bike, and is aiming to finish the year racing in the British superbikes.

“Jack competes in a unique sport which doesn’t get recognised and I am proud to see what he has achieved over the years.

“He has reached the podium on numerous occasions and he even finished third after an accident in which he broke his hand and knuckles.

“He is a fantastic example of not giving up and he deserves to be recognised for this.”