MOTOCROSS rider Daniel Arnold has fearlessly continued his rise to the top and finished the season as Britain’s number one for his age group.

The 13-year-old left fellow competitors in his tracks this season and has earned himself another contract on his O’Neal Yamaha Small Wheel 85cc.

Daniel, from Chatham, powered to glory in the Champion of Champions event, took the KWS British Masters title, triumphed in the BSMA finals and but for some trouble with back-markers he would have claimed the British Youth crown.

The youngster travelled 13,000 miles during the season and will collect his British Masters trophy at the Dirt Bike Show.

The physical demands on Daniel throughout the campaign mean he must keep in perfect trim. And avoiding injury is another key to success.

His mother Debbie prefers not to watch what is a dangerous sport, but is extremely proud of her son’s achievements.

She said: "If he competes in the South East he now ends up lapping the riders up to third place and it becomes dangerous, as he doesn’t want to land on a back-marker.

"The standard he is up to means he can only really compete nationally and he’s now Britain’s best rider and we couldn’t have wished for a better season."

Daniel, who will be supplied with four bikes by his team next season along with all his equipment, will step up to riding big wheel bikes, alongside competitors as old as 16.

O’Neal are convinced he has what it takes to become a senior, which brings big financial rewards, and he has been invited to attend a fitness and monitoring session in Rugby, with 10 fellow riders from across the UK.