TEENAGE race ace Declan Connell is gearing up for a ride with Britain's best when he takes to the Superbike grid this weekend.

The 14-year-old, from Dunfermline, is preparing to take to the fast lane at the Donnington Park circuit in Leicestershire in the Dickies British Supersport Championship, which is a junior support class of the Bennetts British Superbikes.

Declan, who is a third-year pupil at Queen Anne High School, has been involved in bike racing since the age of six when he participated in the Scottish Mini Moto Championship, going on to place third and second overall in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

After being asked to ride for the BSB Mini Moto Kawasaki team, earning a number of podiums in the process, he moved up to ride in the 125cc class last year in the Knockhill Motor Sports Club (KMSC) Championship on an Aprilia 125 bike.

A second-place finish then saw him step up again, this time to an Aprilia RRV 450cc, but following a week of testing in Val De Vienne, France, it began to suffer problems with its engine.

During his first Scottish Championship meeting, the engine on Declan's new bike failed and, together with dad James and mum Leona, he decided to change machine.

That led to him acquiring a new Kawasaki Ninja 400cc, which allows him to race in KMSC's Formula 400 and the remaining rounds of the British Supersport Championship, which will come to Knockhill between June 28-30.

On the decision to change bike, James said: " It was going to cost a fortune, so we decided to cut our losses and get a new bike. A sale came up in Birmingham and, after messages back and forward, I made the guy an offer.

"We left at tea-time and drove down, got to the guy's house at 1.30am, then went to his workshop. We left at 3am, came straight back up the road and we had Declan on the track at Knockhill by 2.30pm on the Friday. He then got a third place and two seconds in his first weekend on it!

"We think he is good enough to compete in this BSB championship, and he is keen to do it."

Equally proud mum Leona added: "It is a huge step up so he is a little apprehensive but he takes things in his stride and is very laid back. The school know that he does racing and have given him time off, which is great.

"He is excited; there are more tracks and competitions for him down south, and it is a stepping stone for him."

Declan, who was a successful applicant to the 2018/19 Scottish Motor Sports (SMS) Academy – set up in 2017 to support young drivers aged between 14-20 – in October, is on the lookout for sponsorship. Anyone interested can contact Press Sport and we will put you in touch.