Ten-year-old rider Ethan Sparks hit speeds of 90mph on his way to winning the Junior Lord of Lydden.

Victory was a phenomenal achievement for the Maidstone schoolboy who was competing in the race for the first time.

Fresh from winning the British Minibike Championship - his third British title - Sparks broke new ground at Lydden Hill.

He held his nerve impressively in three high-speed races to take the title after reaching speeds far in excess of what he’s used to.

“The thought of him racing at Lydden was scary because it’s a big track and they hit really high speeds,” said dad Gavin.

“We didn’t know how he’d do, because he’d never been on a big track before, but he won all three races.

“His top speed was 90mph and he averaged about 75mph, so you need your wits about you.

“On the kart tracks he averages about 40mph, so it’s quite a difference.

“He used the same bike, a 70cc two-stroke. It’s capable of those speeds, but you don’t get the full potential on the smaller tracks.

“He was so excited to race the Lord of Lydden - it didn’t faze him at all.

“His first words when he saw the track the day before were, ‘I just want to go to bed so I can wake up and race on that track.’

“He crashed in practice, which put him a session behind everyone else, but he kept his cool in three close races.

“He won the first and third races by 0.1sec and the second by six thousandths of a second. You’ve really got to keep your head when it’s that close.”

Sparks, a pupil at Loose Primary School, also had to hold his nerve in the British Minibike Championship, competing in the 70cc class for the first time this season.

He won 12 races but the championship went the distance, with Sparks taking it by a point in the final race in Wales.

“The top three were separated by thousandths of a second right the way through the championship,” said Gavin.

“It went down to the last round and they did double-points, so it was even more stressful, and he got knocked off by his title rival in the first race.

"He had to win the last two races to win the title by a point - and he did. It’s never been closer, apparently. He was absolutely buzzing."

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