A GREAT Sankey drag racer is hoping to repeat a debut success when he steps up a class for 2015.

Lewis Burgess claimed the Straightliners Championship 10.10 title at the first time of asking on his Suzuki GSXR 750 bike last year.

He enters the 9.50 ACU bracket this spring, based at Santa Pod Drag Way, and the former Sir Thomas Boteler student is confident he can compete for another crown.

“My goal is to win it again,” he said. “Moving into 9.50 – it’s a much bigger organisation.

“As confident as I am, I’ve not got much to lose. Hopefully I’ll get the bike right and it’ll be a good experience, as well as trying to win it, because last year was beyond me.

“It was my first season and a first championship win. It was quite an accomplishment beating the bigger, more powerful bikes.”

The 19-year-old targeted motorsport success since watching his uncle, Phil Gilbert, as a child.

For 2015, Burgess has acquired American sponsors EvilSwingArms USA, Trickey Rickey Racing USA and Magic Bullet Fuel Treatment USA.

Along with LiveToRideRacewear, Ninemeister Porsche and Image Village, he has a solid backing.

“I’ve dreamed of it since I was four years old watching my uncle,” he added. “But I was so young I couldn’t do anything about it.

“There’s nothing stopping you from going and making a living out of it. It’s all money – I’ve got six sponsors now, which really is a massive help.”

Elsewhere, a young Warrington racing driver is hoping to hit top gear this year after an unprecedented novice season.

Lee Chamberlain entered the Manchester and Buxton Kart Club Junior Blue Championship as a novice last year, but came out with the Autumn and Winter Series title as well as being crowned the club’s overall champion.

The 12-year-old, who started racing aged seven, is now hoping to compete across three fronts.

As well as defending his Manchester and Buxton title, the King’s Leadership Academy student will race in the Cheshire Kart Racing Club Championship and compete for a National Kart Racing Association crown.

After meetings in the Junior Blue events in January, Chamberlain will be travelling with his dad Dave to races three times a month across the three championships.

“The dedication from Lee is phenomenal and he wants to make a career out of it,” said mum Claire Warburton. “He’d love to go on to Formula One but it’s lots of money.

“Going as a novice and coming out as champion, it’s not normally done. Now he wants to get his national A licence, but he has to get signatures from races up and down the country.

“The school is brilliant and supports him 100 per cent.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Lee should call 07784 917069.