A BASILDON-BASED teenager is making impressive progress during the early stages of his motocross career.

Harrison Forde has always finished high on the leaderboard in the East Anglia Schoolboy Motocross Club and just recently in the Compass Cup Team Event and British Youth UK Nationals.

Elliott Forde, the 13-year-old’s dad, is proud to see the De La Salle School pupil excelling in the sport he loves.

Harrison came eighth in the British Youth UK Nationals despite only entering the competition as a wildcard for the first time, while the teenager also picked up the most points for his team in the Compass Cup team event.

Elliott said: “I’m proud of what he is doing.

“When he does something like finish eighth in the British Youth UK Nationals, you’re proud of him, of course.

“He was also his team’s number one rider in the Compass Cup, which was a great achievement.

“Motocross is one of those sports where it’s dangerous, but he enjoys it.

“You do worry at the same time as wanting him to do well.”

“Harrison was really proud of himself to come eighth,” continued Elliott.

“His main club is East Anglia but he does go to some other ones to compete as well.

“He first started when he was four and he went over to Action Park, which was next to the A127, but that’s closed and now it is at least a two hour journey to anywhere.”

Harrison has now been involved in motocross for nine years and although his local track was shut down, that has not stopped the up-and-coming star.

The number of motocross enthusiasts that go on to forge a successful professional career are few and far between.

And, due to only just breaking into his teens, Harrison has yet to decide whether he wants to go down that career path.

But his dad is clear that he will support his son should he decide to enter the professional arena of motocross.

“Unless you are based in mainland Europe it is difficult to go professional in motocross,” said Elliott.

“He is happy doing what he is doing at the moment but that could obviously change because he is still young and he may end up wanting to go down a different career path.

“But I’m proud of Harrison and the progress he has made in the sport.”

With his new sponsor Essex Smart Repairs on board along with Hardcore Racing, Ducksmart and Rockoil, the future appears to be bright for Basildon’s latest hot prospect on the motocross racing track.