MY FIRST

of Burnley, former British Superbike champion MEMORY: I was probably three or four and I was riding a pushbike. I can remember being a bit saddlesore. I was so excited. I thought it was the best thing I had ever done.

HOLIDAY: We used to go to Hardcastle Crags, near Hebden Bridge, with the dog. We used to go for the day but if we stayed anywhere we would go to Morecambe Bay. We never went abroad. The first time I went abroad was when I was 16.

JOB: When I left school I was an apprentice builder for a company in Colne called Harry Kay Builders. I loved it, really enjoyed it. I did it for three years and then turned professional. All the lads were fantastic and I still see them. I invited one of them to my wedding.

CAR: A black Fiat Uno which I bought in 1991 when I was 17. It was so rough, I never bothered to do it up -- it really needed scrapping. My mum and dad didn't want me to have a road bike.

OFF-ROAD BIKE: I had a TY 80 Yamaha trials bike when I was about six. My dad was into bikes and he badgered me into having one. He used to race and my interest came from him. I was the envy of my friends because they just got footballs or an Action Man. I used to let them ride it but they couldn't really ride much at that age.

ROAD BIKE: My first roadbike is the one I have now -- a 996 Ducati given to me by Ducati. I haven't been out on it yet. It looks so pretty and I don't want to get it dirty. I just polish it and admire it! RECORD: When I Fall In Love by Rick Astley. I bought it to give to a girl when I was 13. She seemed pleased at the time but I think she finished with me the day after.

LOVE: A girl at school called Sally Cryer, from Barnoldswick. We met at the Fisher More School in Colne.

RACE WON: I remember it very well. It was in 1985 in a muddy field in Middleton. It was my third season of competing and it was a race of boys aged 11 and 12 on 80cc bikes.

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP WIN: In 1992, when I was 18. It's done on a tally where you gain points from five or six races in different places. I haven't won the world championships, yet which is a similar situation -- 14 races in 14 countries. My wife Kathryn manages to come with me and has only missed one race this year, in Japan. She has given me a lot of support.

LITERARY VENTURE: I've written a book called Back On Track, which is a diary of the season and really interesting! Three Evening Telegraph readers can win a signed copy if they correctly answer the question I've set. WIN a signed copy of Neil's book NEIL'S book Back On Track is published by HarperCollins and is available from bookshops for £14.99 (ISBN 0007126468). For a chance of winning one of three signed copies, just answer the following question:

What make of crash helmet does Neil wear?

Send your answers, on a postcard or sealed-down envelope, to Pauline Hawkins, Back on Track competition, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, BB1 1HT. Closing date is Monday, December 17. Usual Lancashire Evening Telegraph rules apply.