WINSFORD whizz-kid Lewis Adams is revving up for a great future in motor sport.

Lewis, of Holly Drive, was, at just 15, the youngest rider at Oulton Park on Saturday in the New Era Super Club Championships, Round Six.

This first year on the circuit has come as a bonus to the Wirral 100 Club member, who was originally told he wouldn't be able to compete until he was 16.

Lewis made a dream start to his track career but it hasn't all been smooth riding since, as he discovers the racing roads are fraught with bumpy lessons to learn.

He said: "I only started this season and my first race was on a wet track at Anglesey. I hadn't rode in the rain before but I finished ninth which was a very good experience.

"But in my fourth race, back at Anglesey, I had a big crash which wiped the bike out."

With his Honda KS 125 back on track for Oulton Park, more problems returned to haunt him.

He explained: "In practice on Friday my front brake lever fell off and the bike flipped me over on a corner. We had to spend the rest of the day working on it.

"Then on Saturday I got through practice alright but the engine just went 'kaput' on the fourth lap"

Lewis hopes to do one more season on his current bike before moving up to the 250 class, by which time he should have boosted his finances.

In the meantime, the Weaverham High pupil hopes to lose his novice orange vest after a successful first year which has been boosted by support from Martin Lamb, who designed his bike, local companies Combined Tyres and Arandale Motors, and, of course his family.

Lewis added: "As this is a learning year, my dad didn't expect me to do as well as I have. I'm now hoping for a top six finish at the next race in Anglesey."

Lewis wasn't the only one to perish on the Little Budworth bends at the weekend.

Winsford sidecar racer Steve Brooks also crashed out on the fourth lap, and Middlewich biker Kevin Longley seemingly disappeared out of sight after Guardian freelance photographer Dave Jones caught him on the starting grid.

He said: "It was one of those days. I shot Kevin on the grid but I don't know what happened to him after that, it was the last I saw of him.

"It was the same with Lewis and Steve - if I'd blinked I'd have missed them!"

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.