Kent-based bike trials rider Scott Wilson warmed up for next week’s UCI World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, with a ninth place finish in the BIU European Championships in Belgium.

Despite the low finish at the event in Aywaille, near Liege, the 18-year-old from Lydd was happy with his latest trip to the Continent.

“I wasn’t really expecting to get anywhere as this is my first year in the Elite category and I was the youngest rider in the competition. The rest of the competitors were very experienced but it was a good learning curve. I attempted everything and proved to myself that could do it.”

Italy now beckons on Monday, as Wilson attempts to better his eighth-place finish is last year’s event.

“This will be my last chance to compete at UCI junior level,” he explained. “Hopefully it will be a good trip and I’ll put in a good performance.

A further part of his preparations for Italy was a two-day display at the Sellindge Music Festival last weekend, which Scott described as a good way to increase the profile of the sport.

The rider performed shows for the large crowd with obstacles including pallet stacks, a cable reel and a Mercedes.