Track ace is man for emergency

9:00pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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MOTORCYCLE paramedic Barry Rudge is proving to be an ace on the race track.

The 48-year-old spends his work days with West Midlands Ambulance Service in Birmingham and also helps the police teach safe motorcycling.

But, during the weekends, the Worcester biker is leading the way in the Honda CB500 Cup National Championships.

After taking up the competitive sport in 2006, he posted his first win at Cadwell Park recently and repeated the feat three times to lead the national club championships.

In the superclub class, Rudge, of St Peter's, is fourth in the riders' table after a sixth and third place at Oulton Park. During an eventful second race, he was knocked off the track at 90 miles per hour but managed to stay upright on the grass and rejoined the action.

And Rudge regained his third place on the penultimate lap, despite falling back to 10th, after two riders in front collided.

He had bagged two thirds and a 13th at Cadwell Park.

Rudge, who also instructs on tracks for rider skills days, admitted he was a bit of a late starter to competing.

He said: "After doing lots of track days for fun, I found that I was getting quicker and quicker with my lap times so was encouraged by my racer friend to take up motorcycle racing.

"My first year in the CB500 Cup was in 2006 and it was a steep learning curve. I finished 12th in the country in superclub class.

"In 2007, I entered the club and superclub national championships. After a hard-fought year, I finished third in the club and sixth in the superclub."

Rudge's results are improving and he is next in action in the superclub class in Anglesey this weekend.

He is always looking for sponsorship and anyone interested can call him on 01905-764463 or 07899-917180.