A South Hams man will be participating in his first motorbike race at the age of 58.
Andrew Thompson will be competing in the Sound of Thunder race at the Brands Hatch Circuit in West Kingsdown, Kent this Saturday, March 16.
The 11-lap race will be the first of about 10 to 15 races he will be competing in over the course of the summer at six different race tracks.
Andrew, from Malborough, said he’s always enjoyed riding motorbikes and dreamed of racing and now that he’s semi-retired he has decided to do just that.
Although it’s something he has always dreamed of doing, Andrew admitted he was a little nervous for the race.
He said: “I’m just praying for dry weather!”
Andrew said however the support from the people in the racing world has been phenomenal, and that he knows if anything goes wrong there will be plenty of people helping out.
He also took the time to thank the local support he has received, such as his sponsor, Captain Morgan’s Cafe and Takeaway, Salcombe.
He said they are kindly sponsoring him because it’s a place he’s been going for many years for a cup of tea.