At his first race weekend in the Hottrax Modern Classics Championship, Sam Osborne, 22, won two out of the three races in his class on his 600cc Yamaha R6. Although a rookie pitched against seasoned racers, he beat the reigning champion, unbeaten for two years. He also beat all but one of the 1,000cc bikes racing in a bigger engine class at the same time. Sam also set the fastest lap time of his class, clocking 51 seconds, just five seconds off the track record set by British Superbikes champion Gregorio Lavilla. It was a flying start to the journey he’s dreamed of embarking on since starting junior motocross aged seven. Sam said: “Other competitors I’d never met were coming up to me and shaking my hand. “Standing up there on the winner’s podium felt amazing and I knew I wouldn’t stop until I get to the very top. “This season I’m going to focus totally on racing and really make my mark.” Sam didn’t win the third race as he couldn’t enter it - the rain poured down and, on a tight budget, he only had dry, second hand tyres and couldn’t afford a set of wets. He is preparing his bike for the coming season, starting in March, and is urgently looking for sponsorship from local people or businesses. l For more information, email Sam at its_ozzy@hotmail.co.uk