While most 16-year olds fret about exam results and peer pressure, Barrie Evans is more concerned about race results and tyre pressure.

Despite turning 16 just three months ago, he is already in the first team of the Arena-Essex speedway side.

He is widely regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the sport, but he is taking it all in his stride.

"It feels great to be riding out there in front of so many people. It can be a bit weird riding against people with so much more experience, but it still feels brilliant," said Barrie.

Barrie got into speedway at eight years old, when a neighbour invited him to watch a meeting at the local track, King's Lynn. Barrie went along, and was hooked.

Within three years he was riding himself, going to training schools and practising at tracks throughout the country.

At 15 he signed for the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in Norfolk, and just after his 16th birthday, he put pen to paper at the Hammers. "I felt good enough to ride in the Premier League, so when the Hammers offered me a place, I took it," Barrie explained.

But Barrie hopes his meteoric rise through the sport has not reached its peak yet. His next ambition is to win the British under-21 championship.

"Obviously, I'd love to win the World Championship one day. It's every rider's dream," said Barrie.

Barrie's confidence in his own ability is clear. "It's tough riding out there but when the bike is set up I feel I can beat anyone."

Support for Barrie comes from everyone who knows him. His dad started his own business to allow him to be more flexible in helping Barrie. He has also bought him two expensive GM engines.

His grandfather has also bought him a van for travelling to meetings. Other riders at the club provide as much assistance as they can, as well as team manager Martin Goodwin.

"Martin is always helping. He helps me with my bike, and has recently giving me a lot of help with my gating."

Despite losing in the final of the Essex Juniors Championship at Arena-Essex, the youngster is one of the Hammers' brightest prospects.

Bright prospect - Barrie Evans

No Essex junior title for Evans

What was thought to be a one-horse race soon turned into something resembling the Grand National, as Boston rider Luke Clifton came out on top of the pile in the Essex Junior Championship at Arena-Essex.

Home rider Barrie Evans was initally expected to have no troubles in taking the title, but bad luck and excellent riding all round made it more difficult than was anticipated.

Rye House's Phil Ambrose was on the comeback trail after recently breaking his collar-bone.

But in his first outing, he fell and suffered the same injury, leaving Arena junior Chris Mills to replace him for the rest of the meeting.

As the competition progressed, Clifton, Evans, Gavin Hedge, Shane Colvin led the way, with Mark Thompson also keeping pace.

Nevertheless, it was those four who eventually appeared in the final, which was won by Luke Clifton.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.