UNLIKE his two wheels, young Aaron Smith has his feet firmly on the ground.
For while the exciting 11-year-old rider has thrilled indoor crowds with his daredevil riding in the UK Supercross Series, Aaron is taking nothing for granted.
The Oswaldtwistle youngster, who practises on a 40ft ramp behind his home, currently leads the series after a win and second place after the first two rounds in Belfast over the weekend.
And he has the championship firmly in his headlights.
The five round series will take the Rhyddings High School pupil to giant indoor venues across the country -- culminating with a final stage at the London Docklands Arena in January. But despite the expectancy, the big crowds and the travelling, nothing seems to faze the youngster who is in his final season on 65cc.
Dad David said: "Aaron is a very down to earth lad who quite simply loves to ride bikes. He's been riding since he was three and competing since he was six.
"We are very confident he can win this championship and to be honest we are not even thinking about finishing second or third."
It would be a fitting finale for the young biker who finished fourth in last year's competition despite not competing in all the rounds.
"He would have won last year, I'm sure of it, if he had taken part in all of the rounds."
Aaron had an unhappy season in the 65cc Outdoor Motorcross season and was all ready to step up to the 85cc bracket. So much so that David sold his new 65cc bike.
But Aaron changed his mind and he leapt to the top of the leaders board on his spare bike!
His dad said: "He was a bit unhappy because we had so many mechanical problems that he didn't want to compete at that level any more.
"But like youngsters do, he changed his mind and he was brilliant in Belfast."
While winning the UK Supercross National Championship is Aaron's main priority, David is not expecting his son to become a star of the future.
He added: "To be honest, I am not one of those parents who say my son is going to be the next best thing because competing at junior level and senior level are two completely different things.
"Just getting on to the adult circuit is a feat in itself but until then he will be taking it one season at a time."
Aaron is in action again at the NEC in Birmingham on November 17.
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