Roaring success!

Photo: Picture: Tony Miller

A YEAR in trophies . . . Steve Lawton with his bikes and his collection of awards.

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Huge trophy haul for veteran racer

DEMON racer Steve Lawton has roared to success with an impressive 19-trophy haul in one year.

The 45-year-old, from Moorside, has proved a one-man trophy machine in a 30-year motor-cycle racing career that has seen him scoop hundreds of awards.

Last season he won 14 honours at Preston and District Motor-cycle Club, including four championships — the 50cc, 125GP, Single Cylinder and Classic 250 — the Overall Club Championship, for which he received a huge shield, and the fastest lap of the year.

Steve also won a championship with 50cc Classic Racing Club, was the AGN Classic 50 Club Champion and won the ACU North West Centres regional championships, its 125GP, its 250 Classic and was runner-up in the single cylinder.

But he remains modest about his success, saying luck plays its part.

Steve was only supposed to enter three championships at Preston but as a sponsor had provided his bike he was allowed to enter a fourth.

He said: “It was just one of those situations. I got the chance to have a ride on a classic bike and take the bike under my wing and restored it and cleaned it up. As long as you can get your bike preparation right it’s down to you as a rider. You need a lot of luck as well. Anything can happen.”

But it didn’t all go his way as he suffered a few breakdowns as well, ruling out a clean sweep of titles. He was lucky to stay on after one crash that scared him to death.

Steve said: “In many ways I had to fight some battles. It was not a total cake walk. It was hard work riding four different bikes.

“I was doing eight races a day and you have to be up front every single race so it’s a lot of laps.

“It’s hard going jumping from a different bike as they each have a different capability and you have to get used to the speed difference and how the machine works. It’s a gamble and the rider can get hurt.

“I worked out I did 500 racing laps last year — and I managed not to fall off once, though there were some close moments. I had to get into the right frame of mind and stick to my guns.

“I have always raced and you go into a championship and don’t know how the season will pan out. You just keep plugging away. It’s all to do with how you ride on the day.”

The joiner has more than 300 trophies now in a glittering trophy room but struggles to find time to fit in the racing with his job.

He races at Preston, Scarborough, Liverpool, Cheshire and Anglesey, as well as traditional circuits such as Donnington Park and Mallory Park, Leicestershire.

He added: “I started racing when I was 16. From there I have progressed up and up to higher levels and grand prix but over the years I have slowed it down a little bit.

“I have always had a racing bike in the garage ready to go racing.

“I have twice been British 125 champion. I want to get back on the roads now and do some national road racing again.”

Steve thanks all those that have supported him and says he is happy to give help to budding riders.