BOLTON motorcyle ace Benjamin Heaton is racing towards a national title on a bike he built himself.

The 28-year-old rider is leading the Classic Championship in his first full season.

He is three points ahead of his closest challenger after four races with three remaining.

The series is for bikes made before 1972 and all the races are held at the Three Sisters track in Wigan.

Heaton, who works for a Honda motorcycle dealership in Wigan, competes against riders from all over Britain in the races and represents Preston and District Motorcycle Racing Club which is run by Donna Jefferies and Craig Evanson from Westhoughton.

He was also signed this work to ride for local team Carbon Fibre Works run by Chris Alty.

He said: "This is my second go at racing. I started a season about seven years ago but had a crash on the road and was put out of work.

"It meant I had to stop so this is my first full season and it's going really well against bigger, more powerful, expensive and exotic machines.

"I'm going all out to win and putting everything into it.

"The classic championship is only for classic bikes up to 1972, mine is a 1968 Honda RC 195.

"I build, prepare and race my own motorcycles on a shoestring budget.

"Some of the bikes in the classic are from wartime. I built mine in my shed. The frame was from my mum's old bike, the engine is made out of bits I've found and I built the exhaust from scratch."

Heaton, who lives with his girlfriend Chloe and their four-year-old daughter Miya, hopes his success can lead to him fulfilling his ambition of taking part in the Manx TT.

"Whenever you race you accrue points on your licence," he said.

"I have big dreams of racing in the Isle of Man, hopefully next year in a mix of competitive classes.

"The more points you get on your licence the closer you get to getting a mountain licence which you need to compete over there.

"The Manx TT is in the August and is the same TT course of 37 three-quarter-mile laps. I would be competing in the 600cc race and the classic race there.

"I also usually compete in prestigious racing championships nationally, but I have really struggled with money this year.

"In the bigger paddocks I often get referred to as the Redneck because I sleep in my car."

If anyone is interested in sponsoring Heaton he can be contacted via email benjaminheaton124@gmail.com