A YOUNG motocross talent from Canvey Island is hoping to stamp his name over the sport after impressing in his fledgling career.

Seven-year-old Archie Thipthorpe is taking huge strides just 12 months after he was first spotted on the bike at the former Basildon Action Park, having linked up with the Mid Sussex Motocross Club.

And Archie, who is a pupil at Northwich Park Primary School, is seemingly taking to the sport like a duck to water, and currently sits second in the standings in the Autos Championship.

Dad Darren is said he is over the moon with the progress Archie is making and says he sees a good future in motocross for his son.

“He is doing briallintly so far and has really taken to it,” said Darren, 46. “He has got a lot better in social situations as there is a lot of adult involvement and he is doing well in the Autos Championship as well.

“He only started racing last June after a racer spotted him practicing and said “you should take him racing, he’s a natural”.

“We entered five races during the rest of 2015 and he got quicker and quicker, bagging results from 24th up to 6th by the latter part of the year.

“We started off 2016 with a new KTM 50sx that has been kindly tuned and fettled by one of his local sponsors and Tuning legend Chris Barker at CBS RACING in Wickford.

“This year we decided to follow one club championship to get as many points as possible and Archie has stunned us with his speed and grit. After five rounds of 11 he is laying second in the championship!

“I must say it always makes me chuckle seeing him transform from a fire breathing motocross kid at the weekend to a mild mannered seven-year-old come Monday morning!”

Archie’s talent was recently displayed at a meeting in Rye, in Kent when he came off his bike after hitting a fallen rider while in first position and ended up half a lap behind the entire field.

But a tearful Archie got back on the bike and closed the race in an admirable eighth, before securing back-to-back third place finishes in the following races.

Archie and Darren thanked sponsors CBS Racing, 94MX, KTM at Hyside Motorcycles, KKB Racing and Thurrock Car and Van Rental.