A TALENTED St Columba’s High School pupil is set to take a step closer towards the pinnacle of motorbike racing after claiming a national title.

Lennon Docherty, 15, accelerated to victory in the 2022 Bemsee (British Motorcycle Racing Club) Kawasaki Team Green Cup, picking up 15 race wins, and a further 11 podium places, along the way.

Now the youngster, who is from Lochore, is set to compete in the HEL Performance British Junior Supersport Championship next year, a series that is a support class of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Lennon, who began racing in mini motos at the age of seven, started competing in the Kawasaki Team Green Cup in 2020, racing on a 28bhp (brake horsepower) restricted bike.

In a restricted, three-round season, he finished on the podium in each race, before finishing as runner-up, and being named as ‘Young Rider of the Year’ in 2021 after moving on to ride in a full-power, Kawasaki Ninja 400 bike.

His performances saw him go into this year’s edition, which was held over eight rounds, as one of the title favourites, and proved it by racing to championship glory.

Lennon was also awarded the Sir Ben Ball Trophy, an award presented to a young rider deemed to be a potential professional champion of the future, and his proud dad, Wullie, told Press Sport: “It’s been a hard year, but a really good year.

“Going into the last race at Brands Hatch, he was leading the championship, but I’m not sure how he was able to cope.

“He was the most relaxed person there!

“Lennon is such a level-headed guy, especially for 15-years-old; sometimes, he’s so relaxed, he’s almost horizontal.

“He believed in himself and battled hard. It’s a level playing field, and that’s what makes me so proud; he’s done it purely on talent.”

During the course of the season, Lennon was given two wild card opportunities to ride for the Symcirrus Motorsport team, riding a HEL Performance British Junior Supersport Championship bike.

After finishing seventh in his first attempt, he was given another chance as a wild card between the last two rounds of the Kawasaki Team Green Cup, finishing once more in the points, and Lennon will now ride for Symcirrus Motorsport in the Junior Supersport series next year.

Wullie described it as a “fantastic opportunity” for Lennon, who has been supported by a number of sponsors, including Claire’s Nailz; Ringtone Racepainter; Clarik Limited; DocFit; GSG Performance; Bonthrones Plumbing and Heating; M R Coachworks; Mark Haddan Painter and Decorator; PFI Sign plus; and The Wilson’s.