BIKE-mad Shea Wylie – one of Ringwood Moto-cross Club’s rising stars – will be gunning for glory when the 2012 season roars into action on Sunday.

The Parkstone prospect is already considered one of Ringwood’s old hands – at the tender age of eight.

Poole-born Shea will be challenging for club championship honours in the smallest class on show – the Auto’s 50cc group for six to nine-year-olds – when Ringwood members kick-start their campaign at Tincleton, near Dorchester.

The Talbot Combined School pupil, who first rode a bike aged five, has been competing in motocross with the Ringwood club since he was six.

Backed by local firm Future Racing UK and Red Genie Bike Cleaner, Shea is keen to add to his trophy cabinet, having already collected 14 gongs.

Proud father Simon, who also used to ride competitively during his younger days, told Echo Youth Sport: “He was bike mad and took it from there.

“He took to it like a duck to water. Each season, he seems to be getting better and the aim this year is to get him to first place on the podium.”

Shea rides a standard KTM 50cc production machine and, along with his collection of trophies and awards, one of his proudest moments in the sport came when he was chosen to compete at the annual British Schoolboy Team Championship for the Ringwood club last season.

A podium finish will be his target this term when he takes to the track to battle 39 others in his age group for the title of British Auto 50cc champion.

Admission for all the club’s motocross events is free and the first race starts at 10.30am.

For further information on Ringwood Motocross Club, contact Wayne Parker on 07922 174725 or visit ringwoodmxc.moonfruit.com