CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FOR RYAN BRAIN

By Sarah Annison

Ryan Brain, the 11-year-old Solihull racer, won round seven of the Phoenix National Junior Race Championship  this weekend (13/14 September 2008), in Suffolk, giving him yet another trophy for his collection.

The race meeting, at Ellough Park Raceway in Suffolk, went smoothly for Ryan from the start, with none of the mechanical failures that dogged the start of his season. The pressure was on with only this and one more race meeting to the end of the season and the championship.

On Saturday Ryan kept a steady pace through qualifying to gain second place on the grid. Even the weather seemed to be on his side, with none of the torrential rain of the previous week, so he was able to run slick tyres all day with none of the fiddly changes between races, which have characterised this season.

The weather held to Sunday and although some black clouds were seen, it remained dry and warm. Race one was nerve wracking as Ryan left the grid first with his closest competitor Joe Francis close behind, they remained tight together throughout the subsequent laps.

They were quite equally matched and both moved between first and second place, each vying to out manoeuvre the other by overtaking up the inside on the corners and upping their speed on the straights, both were keeping their lines and were reluctant to give an inch. By the penultimate lap the race could have gone either way but unfortunately for Joe he lost the front into the chicane  and was unable to get his bike re started, this meant that Ryan passed the chequered flag in a comfortable first place in front of Ryan Folkes in second and James Causebrook in third.

Race two saw Ryan riding in a relaxed manner, he knew that two second places in the final two races would secure him the meet win. He followed close behind Joe but did not fight for first place with the associated risk of coming off and loosing points. The race did not have the same excitement as race one but Ryan secured the second place he needed. Race three also saw Ryan racing for second place only, which he took with ease. This was enough to give him the first place trophy. Ryan Folkes came away with second and Joe Francis with third.

Once the meet points were added to the championship points Ryan realised that by winning the meeting he had also won the championship, although there was one race meeting left to go he had more than a 25 point lead. The Lyndon schoolboy could not stop smiling as he said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet, I don’t think it’ll seem real until I’m actually holding the Championship trophy.”

His Dad and mechanic Keith, who has battled every step of the way with Ryan, by keeping the bikes on track with a very limited budget added: “I’m so proud, he has worked so hard and this makes it all worth while, he’s proved that he has got what it takes.”

Ryan's race team now have to decide his strategy for next year – he will be moving up to full-sized bikes but there are a number of different championships that he can enter.  Securing funding and sponsorship will be critical in ensuring that this Solihull racer achieves his full potential. If any local business would like to discuss sponsorship they can contact Sarah via Ryan's web site – where full details of his racing achievements can be found www.ryanbrainracing.co.uk

Ryan would like to thank his existing sponsors Nitro Helmets, Jon Wishart Motorsport Photography and Arachsys Specialist Internet Service Provider for their ongoing help and support.