Motorcross Flyin’ Ryan is a motorcross marvel QUICK learner Ryan Johnson is fast-tracking his way towards becoming a master of motorcross. Burning up the opposition has become second nature to the 10-year-old Blackpool boy, who has forged to the front with a push from one of the country’s leading professionals. Ryan, from Birkside Way in Mereside, is the best of the North-West’s nine to 11-year-olds after landing the championship at two of the region’s top clubs. Under the expert guidance of Alex Rach from Derbyshire, he scorched to the Newton-le-Willows MC title at Turnover Farm in St Michaels and followed up with the Bacup-based Vale MC crown. Living up to all expectations in a year at Rach’s academy means Ryan’s mentor is keen to extend the arrangement, in which the youngster is allowed a day off Mereside Primary School every fortnight to get the very best tuition. Every trip with Rach to tracks around the country improves his speed and technique. “Alex dearly wants to carry on training him because he believes he has the talent to become British champion next year at the age of 11,” said Ryan’s mum Mandy. “Ryan is going on really well at junior school. He is coping with the extra work to cover for the 18 days off. The school have backed him by allowing him the time off. Motocross is what Ryan wants to do as a career and the school appreciates that.” Crash Ryan also carried off the Lancashire Grand National Cup in dominating the Newton-le-Willows series at St Michaels, where he survived a spill to win the last of the ten rounds. Each of the ten rounds involves three races and he came off his 65cc machine in the second when pushing strongly for first place. The crash pushed him back to 16th and he remounted to finish sixth. Now he’s firmly on course to compete in the British youth championships which run from next February to September and include two trips to Ireland, one to Scotland and another to Cornwall. Two benefactors have helped put him on the right track. Ian Hodgson, who owns J and M Scaffolding in Kirkham, is ploughing in £14,000 for a practice bike and race machine at £2,400 apiece plus the race fees for Ryan’s British title bid. Ryan’s academy costs are being met by Tim Baldwin, a property developer in Spain who was impressed by previous publicity about Ryan when getting to see The Gazette. Email us and tell us about your stories!