Ross Turner, 8, riding in the slipstream of Valentino Rossi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5CCSVANupU

Remember where you read about him first. In years to come, Ross Turner, may well be a household name. At least, if his form as a fledgling motorbike racer is anything to go by he will.

The eight-year-old, from Broseley, regularly speeds around race tracks at 75mph as he bids for success on his new GP50 bike. He is already well-known on the racing circuit and is set for bigger and better things. Ross said: "I love to race around the track. It's a great feeling."

Ross started racing at the tender age of six, encouraged by his father, Simon, and mother, Suree. His parents, who run the award-winning King and Thai Restaurant, in Broseley, are fully behind him.

Simon says: "Ross is a little star, he's an incredible racer and in recent months he's come on leaps and bounds. He's racing against kids who are much older than him and he's not afraid to hunt them down and cross the line first."

Ross's first two years were spent getting to grips with riding a Minimoto on a racetrack and building up his speed. He's now racing in the British Minimoto Championship, competing in two classes. Currently, he lies eighth after two rounds.

Simon adds: "Many of the world's best racers started their careers in Minimoto. People like Valentino Rossi, Marco Simmoncelli, Scott Reading and Jorge Lorenzo all had their first races on the same sort of bike that Ross rides."

Ross has every chance of following in those illustrious footsteps. He's already signed up for Fab Racing, who run the British Minimoto Championship. The championship acts as a feeder class, helping riders to break into Moto GP.

Ross, a pupil of Barrow C of E school, near Broseley, added: "My dream is to be a GP rider and this year, with the help of the Young Riders' Fund, I will be working towards that dream.

"I race every month and practice at the weekends at a track near Leintwardine. My dad is my biggest supporter and I also get coaching from Chaz Davis, who is the World Supersport Champion."

Ross's bike has a top speed of 75mph, and he can accelerate to that from a standing start in just 100 metres. "I love the feeling I get when I go fast, or when I do well in a race," he adds.

It's a feeling he can look forward to experiencing more often as he makes his way through the ranks in coming years.