Boy racer's championship hopes hit by £6000 bike theft

High School pupil Lewis, 13, is in the lead. With only days to go before the next round, Lewis' machine - one of only two of its kind in the world and irreplaceable - has been stolen in a raid on his grandfather's garage.

The motorcycle cost 6,000 only a year ago and was the only item stolen.

Now Lewis' grandfather, coach and sponsor, Tony Thompson, together with co-sponsor Charlie Whyte of Phoenix Motorcycles of Beeching Road, are offering a 1,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the bike.

Lewis was a runner-up in last year's Bexhill Achiever Awards for his outstanding success in motorcycling.

Motocross provides some of television's most spectacular shots. Youngsters like Lewis jump 100ft "table-top" obstacles on their diminutive machines.

Lewis is so cut-up about the loss of his bike that he cannot find the words to express how he feels about last Friday night's raid.

His grandfather said: "They got in by smashing the back window of the garage and stole nothing else but the bike,

"They must have known it was there - there's no other explanation.

"It cost 6,000 last year. It was extremely rare. The bloke who had it before won the British Championship on it. It was a Honda CR80 with a special Dutch-built frame. There were only two ever made so whoever's taken it can't hope to sell it.

"It had a special M-Tech engine that I could spot a mile off if I ever saw it again.

"I know he's my grandson, but Lewis is the best prospect I know of in the area. It's not just motocross- he's now competing in speedway and on 125cc track bikes.

"He was second in the British Motocross Championship last year.and he is in the lead this year.

"It was the best bike he'd ever had. He felt really at home on it. It was quick and it handled well."

Lewis was hoping to clinch the Seniors motocross title before moving up a class to bigger bikes.

Mr Thompson says: "The police have been wonderful. Everywhere I have been to try and recover this bike they have been there before me.

"If we don't get it back we will have to buy another. But this was a one-off and we just couldn't afford another like it. This year he has been sponsored by Charlie Whyte of Phoenix and a few others. I sponsor him for the rest.

"We could get a Suzuki for 2,500 but we just can't afford it, especially as he is hoping to move up to 125cc as soon as he is big enough."

Lewis has been riding motorcycles since he was two and a half and has been competing in motocross for the past six years.

Last weekend he rode a 500cc ex-Martin Dugard Jawa at Arlington Speedway in a boys' event and won. It was his second outing on the machine.