STOCKPORT teenager James Wright has achieved a lifetime ambition by following his grandfather, Jim Yacoby, into the Belle Vue team.

Rising star Wright (pictured below), rated as Britain's best under-21 rider by boss Ian Thomas, had a taste of the big-time with a few meetings for the Fonestyle UK Aces last season.

But the 19-year-old will be a regular next year after signing under the doubling up rule, which allows promising young British riders to develop while continuing to ride in the lower Premier League.

He will also race at Workington, where he had a brilliant debut year under the guidance of granddad Yacoby, who rode nearly 100 matches for the Aces between 1959 and 1967.

Wright, who is already steeped in the club, said: "I feel I am ready to ride in the Elite League and it will be a good experience for me.

"It's a dream getting into the Belle Vue team but I wouldn't have signed if I hadn't thought the time was right. The Aces are my local club and I'm told I was taken to the track for the first time when I was only one year old. It will be great to follow my grandfather into the team."

Thomas said: "James proved he is Britain's best young prospect by finishing seventh in the World Under-21 final.

"He is still only 19 but I've been watching him for years. I know Jim Yacoby from the old days and, when I was the Workington promoter, he used to bring James up for a blast after meetings before he was old enough to race.

"We gave him a small taste of Elite League racing last season but I am sure he's ready to come up now on a regular basis.

"Everyone concerned will have to sit down at the end of the season to assess whether it's time to come up on a full-time basis."



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