Kings Langley motorcyclist Matt Fitzgerald will this year fulfil a long-held ambition when he takes to the track in one of the UK’s most keenly-fought racing series.

Fitzgerald, pictured, will be competing in the Bemsee Thunderbike Extreme Novice Championship, which is specifically designed to encourage people on to the track and is perfect for riders like Fitzgerald, who race on a tight budget.

Speaking at Brands Hatch last weekend, where the team’s self-built Kawasaki 750 sailed through technical inspection, he said: “I’ve been riding on the road for 15 years and having taken part in numerous track day events, have long harboured the desire to compete properly.

“This year, I’ll finally find out if I have what it takes,” he added.

Despite the adverse weather, the bike’s first foray onto a race track after its winter-long rebuild went well and it will now be given a thorough going over ahead of more testing before the first round of the series on the weekend of March 28 and 29.