ASTLEY starlet Tom Whitwam is celebrating his best track achievement after racing to third place in the under-13s category at the British Indoor Cycle Speedway Championships at Coventry.

The 11-year-old ex-Astley and Tyldesley rider, who was racing for Bury and has since signed for Sheffield Stars, was the youngest competitor in the 18-strong u13s line-up.

He had been preparing for the event over the last few months and had been training at Coventry in the hope of qualifying for the finals, which he did in the morning of the event.

In the final, he got off to a flying start by winning his first race and finished runner-up in his second.

There was high drama in his third race which had to be restarted three times after a competitor rammed Tom on the first bend causing damage to his bike.

It looked like the Astley youngster might have to withdraw, but his bike was repaired in the pits in record time to enable him to line up again for the fourth restart.

With a steely determination Tom flew out of the gates and as his rival went in for the ram, he swerved past and lapped him to take a glorious win.

In his final two races Tom took two second places to finish in third overall to the cheers of the large crowd.