Rising speedway racer Kyle Bickley will share a track with the sport’s Grand Prix stars next weekend.

Bickley, 15, of Workington, is one of a small group of talented youngsters who have been invited to ride at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium ahead of the British Grand Prix.

He will do laps of the track before the senior stars, including Cleator’s Craig Cook, take to the shale for their practice session on Friday afternoon.

Bickley said: “It’s going to be brilliant, I can’t wait.

“It’s experience really and riding on such a big track at a big event, it’s probably the biggest Grand Prix of the year.

“I’ve been down in the pits for a few years now and just as you come out of the pits it opens up and you see all of the people and lights.

“There are 10 of us and we get about an hour to have a go, with three of us going out at a time.

“I just want to have a fun weekend. Not many people get to ride there.”

The young rider admitted that he would one day like to be a regular on the track as a Grand Prix racer but knows it will take hard work and dedication to reach that level.

He said: “I hope I can get there but there are a lot of people trying.

“It’s about being dedicated really; anyone can have talent but you’ve got to do something with it.”

Bickley and another West Cumbrian speedway talent, Dan Bewley, of Maryport, showed their quality as they raced to podium finishes in the British Under-19 final recently.

Belle Vue and Glasgow racer Bewley pipped his Colts team-mate Bickley to second after a race-off.

Both finished on 13 points at Plymouth behind champion Zach Wajtknecht, who scored a 15-point maximum.

“I was over the moon,” said Bickley.

“It was such a hard line-up so for me to come in there and compete, I feel really pleased.

“Maybe it shocked people.

“I thought I’d be happy with the top five or six if my head was together but on the day I felt really good.

“I wanted to win it more than I thought I did.”

Double youth world champion, Bickley’s talent is clearly turning heads as he is also being backed by Flimby firm Thomas Armstrong Limited.

The company is an established sponsor of Workington Comets, with whom Bickley has agreed a deal in principle for next season, and chief executive Keith Denham owned the club before current boss Laura Morgan.

Bickley also thanked Kirkland Carpets, who have been his main sponsor as he has made the jump from youth speedway to the National League this year.

He added: “I’m a local lad signing for a local club next season and Keith knows his way around speedway. He’s no fool.

“Kirkland Carpets have really helped me.

“You need every single bit of support and help you can get and they’re more like friends than sponsors.”