A BURY motocross rider has continued his development with a podium finish in one of the world's most extreme off-road races, writes Ben Collins.

Every year hundreds of riders from around the world compete in the Weston Beach Race, which is the largest off-road motorsport event in the UK.

This year young Frank Skillin took part for the third time at the Somerset resort, having finished ninth in the Youth 65cc race as a nine-year-old in 2013, then sixth in 2014.

And the Bury Grammar School pupil did even better last month as he came third in a time of 1 hour 18 minutes, from a field of 26 riders between the ages of eight and 13.

“It was a big achievement for Frank because he doesn’t usually race in those type of events,” said his mother, Kelly.

“He was seen as the underdog. Some of the other riders are highly sponspored but he’s just a little lad from Bury who’s self-funded.”

Frank, who trains almost every weekend at Cowm Quarry in Rochdale, usually races in north Wales in ‘Enduro’ events, which are long-distance cross-country races.

However, the Weston Beach Race features a straight along the beach and a traditional motocross track going up and down the sand dunes.

“The regular motocross riders usually race for 10 minutes and have a 15-minute interval, but Frank’s usual races last over an hour and he’s done a three-hour race so I think that’s where he had the edge,” Kelly added.

“Frank and his sister have ridden for several years, although Isobelle doesn't compete in such extreme events. They love the sport and, as a family, we all ride. It’s become our way of life."

Father Darren’s love of motocross was passed down to Frank, 11, and Isobelle, 12, with Frank first riding a bike when he was four. Kelly then decided to give it a go too.

She was strictly watching at Weston-super-Mare, though, when Darren also raced, and Kelly admits it is tough watching her boys take on such a testing track.

“When they race along the flat, there can be hundreds of bikes close together, going full throttle across sand and water,” she said.

“I can’t watch. I have to get someone else to tell me what’s happening. Why I let Frank do it every year, I don’t know!

“It's an extreme sport and requires stamina, courage, speed, balance and planning, as well as the ability to handle a fast, hot and dangerous machine.

“So the kids are very dedicated and so brave. As for the adults, they should know better!”

Motocross is dominated by British riders, with current stars such as Graham Jarvis and Jonny Walker making a living out of the sport.

Local rider Paul Bolton, who hails from Chorley, is self-funded but is also amongst the world’s best, and young Frank one day hopes to emulate them.

“My husband competes for fun but Frank is keen to pursue the sport and do his best,” Kelly added.

“We get to meet the top riders. They go out of their way to say hello and we’ve got to know some of them fairly well so they’ve given Frank something to aim for. They’re his heroes.”

The season is now finished for 2015 but Frank hopes to pick up from where he left off when the main races start again in the new year.