Following two British youth Championships, Cheshire-based Charlie Kelly set his 2022 season sight on the British Intermediate Flat Track class and proved a force to be reckoned with.
Images courtesy of Braking Point Images
The 15-year-old entered the Championship, where he could have remained in youth classes until 17. With confidence in an international field, the youngster’s tenacity paid dividends, crowned as the 2022 Adult Intermediate British Champion at the final round held at Lincoln’s Greenfield circuit.
Flat Track originating from America, has fast become popular across Europe for professional riders such as British Superbike (BSB) and MotoGP, who take to the slippery shale and clay to help them fine-tune their riding skills to the extreme. The 2022 British Championship, held over seven rounds over the UK, includes speedway tracks and a purpose-built TT track with a motor cross-style Jump.
In Charlie’s first adult Class year, he took the class by storm and was the only rider to podium across all seven rounds displaying dominance throughout the Championship. He added: “I had set my sight on top 10 finish however, at the halfway mark I realised the 2022 campaign was getting serious. Across the paddock I would sometimes hear people referring to me as the Boy which later stuck as Charlie Boy. It wasn’t all plain sailing though with a crash in Rd 4 I had to give my all to maintain Podiums throughout the season and take the Championship win. Running with riders such as Jake Eddy and Kevin Kennedy was fantastic, and I can’t wait to mix it with the Pro’s in 2023”
Moving to 2023 Charlie will become the youngest Pro rider the sport has seen with aspirations to follow Tom & Tim Neave’s success, who also claimed British Flat Track Status on route to BSB fame.
Catching the eye of others in the sport, Charlie would like to thank sponsors Chester KTM, Evo Motorsport, Tech4MX, Drop n Throttle and Warrington-based Ride & Skid It, whose founder Aidan Collins (Flat Track & Speedway Champion) is instrumental in developing British Youth talent.
