Suffolk teen bike racer dreams of podium win at Snetterton
An aspiring MotoGP racer who broke his leg in an 80mph (129kph) crash at his home race last year said he was back at the same track for "revenge". Charlie Huntingford, 16, from Debenham, Suffolk, is aiming for his first career podium at Snetterton, Norfolk, over the weekend. He has raced in the MotoGP feeder series and the British Talent Cup, and said he could reach up to 170mph on faster tracks. Huntingford, who got up at 05:00 to train, said it would be a "dream" to make the podium.
"This time last year, unfortunately, I broke my leg, but up to that point, I was doing really well - I was top five and then in second just before the injury," he said."Going into Snetterton, I really want to kick-start my season, get a bit of revenge on the track that caught me out last year." He continued: "We go up to 140mph and then on the faster track day bikes 170mph, which to the normal person seems absolutely absurd."
Huntingford is currently studying for his GCSEs, but said he remained focused on all things two wheels. He added: "I've been racing since I was seven years old, so it's just normal. It's embedded in my DNA. All I think about is motorbikes."When sat in an exam this morning, all I could think about was getting out on my bike this afternoon. Everything I focus on is racing, pushbikes, anything with two wheels".
Huntingford is managed by dad, Simon, who juggled the fear of watching his son hurtle around a track approaching 170mph, whilst also critiquing and analysing Charlie's performance. He told the BBC: "I respect him as a rider, and hopefully he respects me as a team manager, but I have to be a dad when it needs that emotional support. "When your son's that passionate about something and he's good at it, why would you stop him? Huntingford added: "Some people say how alike we are because we just spend so much time together."
Team Huntingford is aiming for a maiden podium, which Huntingford said would be "awesome", while his dad added that there "would be tears".Huntingford said: "It would mean the world, especially as I got injured there last year, so I'm really hungry for it. I'm going to do it".
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