BMX youngster Dan Pullen faces a crucial weekend to try retain his place in the British Cycling Talent Team.

The squad is part of the Olympic 2012 development programme, for which he was selected last year. He travels to Bakewell in Derbyshire for two days of tests.

His mother, Debbie, said: "Everyone has to re-apply every year, and only two other youngsters have been invited."

Dan, 15, who lives at Hawkinge, and trains at Shapeshifters Gym in Dover, is a pupil at the Chaucer Technology School.

He is ranked top in the country in his age group, and in the 17-24 regional rankings, but in the British Championships he crashed in the semi-finals a fortnight ago, which left him nursing bruised ribs.

Dan (pictured) is sponsored by Canterbury-based Tibbs Cyclestore, and races for them in the South of England, and nationally as a member of the Harob Fly Race team. Shop owner and team manager Phil Beer was third in the nationals, and sixth in the over 45s cruiser class at Cheddar.

It is a family affair as Debbie, and Dan’s 10-year-old brother Matthew, also ride BMX bikes.