DURRINGTON Motorcycle ace Daryl Bolter is looking forward to a year of exciting new international challenges after taking the decision to turn professional, writes Sarah McQuillen.

The teenage mechanic's magnificent 2004 season saw him clinch the UK Pro 125cc Championship and come within a hair's-breadth of victory in his debut campaign on the Euro-pean Enduro Tour - all while holding down a day job.

Now he has won the biggest prize of his career - a two-year contract with Italian bike manufacturing team Husqvarna, for whom he has been competing for three seasons.

The deal completes a meteoric rise through the ranks for the youngster, which will enable him to broaden his horizons and aim to add world honours to his already impressive roster of UK and European achievements.

He will also be able to compete on an equal footing with some of the professionals on the circuit, who have already found themselves trailing in his wake on some of the sport's most gruelling courses.

A delighted Bolter said: "I'm over the moon. To actually get paid to compete at world level in the sport you love has to be the ultimate for any sportsman.

"Last year was tough - having to do my job and find time to race against the world's best professional riders. Now I can concentrate on my bike practice, fitness training and maybe learn a bit of Italian."

In particular, Husqvarna want Bolter to represent them in a brand new World Enduro Championship under 21 class.

UK managing director Mike Carter explained: "We have been supporting Daryl for three seasons and every goal we have set him, he has achieved.

"As well as picking up a major title in every year with us, his efforts in 2004's European Series and the International Six Days event impressed the Husqvarna factory enough for them to contact us and ask us to organise a full two-year contract."

As well as his new international duties, Bolter plans to continue in the British Enduro Champ-ionship and Fast Eddy series, for which his bikes will still be prepared by Husky Sport UK.

As part of his new enhanced training schedule, Bolter is looking for a daytime training partner to go mountain biking, swimming and weight training with. Anyone interested should contact Daryl on 07917 055607.