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Teen chasing dream win after bone-crunching crash

Connor Bennett
BBC News, East of England
Jamie Niblock/ BBC Close up of Charlie Huntingford's Green eyes through his open visor. His helmet is white. Jamie Niblock/ BBC
Eyes on the prize: Teenager Charlie Huntingford has his sights set on a career best finish

An aspiring MotoGP racer who broke his leg in an 80mph (129kph) crash at his home race last year said he was back at the same track for "revenge".

Charlie Huntingford, 16, from Debenham, Suffolk, is aiming for his first career podium at Snetterton, Norfolk, over the weekend.

He has raced in the MotoGP feeder series and the British Talent Cup, and said he could reach up to 170mph on faster tracks.

Huntingford, who got up at 05:00 to train, said it would be a "dream" to make the podium.

Jamie Niblock/ BBC Charlie with his blue polo teamwear top, looking towards the camera. There is an out of focus part of his bike in shot.Jamie Niblock/ BBC
Huntingford said he was not interested in partying like other teenagers.

"This time last year, unfortunately, I broke my leg, but up to that point, I was doing really well - I was top five and then in second just before the injury," he said.

"Going into Snetterton, I really want to kick-start my season, get a bit of revenge on the track that caught me out last year."

He continued: "We go up to 140mph and then on the faster track day bikes 170mph, which to the normal person seems absolutely absurd."

Jamie Niblock/BBC Charlie leans towards the tarmac on his superbike, which he races in the British Talent Cup. It is mostly blue, white and some yellow lining. He is number 76.Jamie Niblock/BBC
Huntingford said driving fast was "embedded in his DNA".

Huntingford is currently studying for his GCSEs, but said he remained focused on all things two wheels.

He added: "I've been racing since I was seven years old, so it's just normal. It's embedded in my DNA. All I think about is motorbikes.

"When sat in an exam this morning, all I could think about was getting out on my bike this afternoon. Everything I focus on is racing, pushbikes, anything with two wheels".

Jamie Niblock/BBC Simon Huntingford in his blue team shirt, emblazoned with sponsors. He is bald and looking onto the camera. Jamie Niblock/BBC
What Simon Says... goes: Simon Huntingford is team manager, but also, like his best mate

Huntingford is managed by dad, Simon, who juggled the fear of watching his son hurtle around a track approaching 170mph, whilst also critiquing and analysing Charlie's performance.

He told the BBC: "I respect him as a rider, and hopefully he respects me as a team manager, but I have to be a dad when it needs that emotional support.

"When your son's that passionate about something and he's good at it, why would you stop him?

Huntingford added: "Some people say how alike we are because we just spend so much time together."

JamieNiblock/ BBC Simon Huntingford, who is bald and wearing sunglasses, is leaning across Charlie and instructing. Charlie is in his full blue leathers, and his white helmet, while sat stationary on his bike, absorbing his manager's information.JamieNiblock/ BBC
Simon, who owns a motorcycle business and is tasked with repairing bikes and rebuilding engines overnight if Huntingford crashes

Team Huntingford is aiming for a maiden podium, which Huntingford said would be "awesome", while his dad added that there "would be tears".

Huntingford said: "It would mean the world, especially as I got injured there last year, so I'm really hungry for it. I'm going to do it".

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