Chip shop boss is battering his rivals on the motorbike track

The Middleton fish-and-chip shop owner has impressed in his third season of riding in the Ducati 848 Challenge – a support event for the British Superbikes championship.

The 34-year-old has been racing for only three seasons but has made huge progress in that time and is now waiting to see what 2012 will hold. It’s a dream come true for an enthusiast whose dad Graham used to take him to watch Superbikes action when he was a youngster.

Poyser impressed in his first year on the track as a novice and earned a link-up with P&H Motorcycles in Crawley, who now fund and support his racing in return for him competing under their name.

“I started off doing a few track days and people said I ought to race,” said Poyser, who runs Ye Olde Fish & Chippe Shoppe.

“I did one season and did really well and after that I was approached by P&H. They said they’d buy me a new Ducati bike – and now I couldn’t afford to do it without them.

“Things have progressed from there and I had my first win at Brands Hatch a few weeks ago. That was very special.

“We’re at the end of the season now and I was 12th out of 28 in the championship. Up against some semi-pro riders, that was pretty good. What happens next is down to the sponsors but I want to go on from here.”

Poyser, also backed by local firms Tribe Capentry and A-Star Scaffolding, takes pride in his fish shop – winner of a quality award – as well as his racing and will at least get more time in the winter to fry instead of ride.

But he still plans to take part in motocross and visit Spain for some training before gearing up for more success on the track next year.