MOTORCYCLE race ace Joel Williams is having his first crack at the world's most challenging road race circuit - the Isle of Man TT course - on a bike that is almost three times his age.

Astley 21 year-old Joel, last year's Ace of Aintree champion and Wirral 100 Oulton Park series runner-up aboard his vee-twin, 250 GP class two stroke RS250 Honda, makes his Manx Grand Prix debut in the classic class aboard a 350 BSA Gold Star that dates from the mid-1950s./p>

Entrant and machine owner Dave Hardman gave Joel the chance of his Isle of Man debut after a successful practise day outing at Aintree where he impressed on his first ever ride on a four stroke racing single.

And backing Dave' judgement of Joel's potential is Culcheth man Tony Salt, owner of Culcheth Tyres and TST Racing, based on the Taylor Industrial Estate at Risley.

Ex-racer Tony is no stranger to the Isle of Man, during his days running the Michelin Race Team he fitted tyres to the TT winning machines of Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop and Carl Fogarty - and he's supplied the race tyres for Dave's pride and joy.

He's also enlisted the help of his mate Mick Grant - seven times a TT winner - who has generously offered to give Joel some one to one tuition on how to master the Mountain circuit during practise week. "I'm happy to help a local lad and hope he has a good, safe, ride. Mind you the Goldie he's riding is a bit different to the one I had as a teenager with its disc brakes, Gardner carb, five speed box and T45 frame tubing," laughed Tony.

To which Joel added: "And thankfully the tyres are a lot stickier. I'm grateful to Dave and Tony for helping me realise my ambition of racing in the Island. The bike's much different to what I'm used to riding but it handles, stops and goes well and the gearchange is great. It should be ideal for my first crack at the Mountain."

Joel makes his Manx GP debut in Bank Holiday Monday's classic race. We'll let you know how it goes.