A SCHOOLBOY is celebrating success on two wheels after clinching a national title.

Marley Mackenzie, from Aberlady, was crowned the winner of the Junior A Category of the Scottish Mini Moto Championships.

The youngster, aged nine, only started racing bikes three years ago but has enjoyed immediate success.

He said: “I love going fast, dicing with other competitors and overtaking.

“Even though this year has gone way better than I expected, I’ve really had to push to get the results as my competitors have kept me on my toes.”

Marley started on a motocross bike when he was six before moving into the Mini Moto Championship last year.

He was runner-up in his rookie year but has been in near flawless form in 2018.

He has won seven of the eight rounds in the championship, losing out at Knockhill, Fife, where he was pipped at the post to finish second.

During the season, the P5 pupil at Aberlady Primary School has proved he’s even got pace against more powerful machinery, which will put him in good stead for next year’s championship, where he moves up a class with a new, more powerful engine.

However, far from resting on his laurels the youngster is already getting in as much winter training as possible to ensure he and his new bike are ready for a very competitive 2019 season.

His older brother Oscar, 12, used to ride motocross a couple of years ago and is considering joining Marley in the Scottish Mini Moto Championship next season.

The youngster, who also has a younger sister Minke, said: “I am a bit nervous of moving up a class for next year but I have tried out the new bike and it’s really quick so I hope I can do well.

“I hope one day when I’m a bit older I can qualify for the British Talent Cup, which will help me develop my racing skills further.”

The interest in motorsport has been passed down from dad Chris, who was Scottish Rally Tarmac Champion in 1997.

He has maintained an interest in all forms of motorsport, four wheels and two, and due to their father’s interest Marley and Oscar are big fans of motorsport too, especially on two wheels, including British Super Bikes and World Super Bikes, but they enjoy the MotoGP Championship the most.

Marley is a huge fan of five-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez and wants to emulate him one day, while Oscar is fan of Jorge Lorenzo, a three-time world champion.

The Scottish Minimoto Championship, run by Alan McIntosh, is a stepping stone to building race experience from a young age and gives riders the tools to understand racing and develop their race craft.

Beyond that, the ambitious schoolboy has his ultimate sights on the MotoGP paddock and a professional career on two wheels.