Maidstone rider Ethan Sparks, nine, lands Mini Fab GP50 title at first attempt as part of championship double

By: Craig Tucker ctucker@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 22 October 2020

Maidstone racer Ethan Sparks celebrated double title success in the Mini Fab Championship.

Sparks, nine, clinched the Mini GP50 series at the first attempt and also landed another AC40 pro championship.

Ethan Sparks in Mini Fab Championship action

The young flier, a pupil at Loose Primary School, received his trophies at Brands Hatch over the weekend.

While at Brands he attracted interest from teams at British Moto 3 level even though he can’t step up for another two years.

Dad Gavin said: “He got talking to a few teams in British Moto 3, which is the next step up from the Fab, and they’re going to stay in touch.

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“It’s two years until he can ride in that but they’re already talking about getting him on one of them.

“The Fab is the feeder series so teams look at the riders coming through and Ethan is on their radar.

“There’s a concerted effort to bring riders through to the British Talent Cup, which is British Moto 3, and the prize is very high - there’s potential to ride in the Junior World Championship.

"It's a massive step because you're on TV and, if the crowds are back in, there's tens of thousands watching."

Five wins out of six at the penultimate round in Cumbria secured the AC40 class and left him on the verge of sealing the GP50.

He wasted no time adding the GP50, winning the first race of the final round at Red Lodge in Suffolk.

Ethan Sparks with his trophies at Brands Hatch

His success has also earned compliments from British Superbike riders who have seen him in action.

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“It didn’t really sink in straight away that he’d won the GP50,” said Gavin.

“We were on the way home and he suddenly turned round and said, ‘Dad, I can’t believe I’m a champion.’

“It’s a hell of an achievement right across the board, Ethan for riding it, and us as family for the effort that goes in.

“A lot of the British Superbike riders who come and watch Fab racing on their day off say to me that he just outsmarts everybody.

“He’s not only extremely fast, he works things out and takes different lines to get better position on the track to go into other corners. It’s early days but he’s doing really well.

“He’s stepping up to GP70 next season which is the same bike but almost twice the power.

“He’ll have two years in that and then British Moto 3.”

Sparks would like to thank J&S Motorcycle Accessories and Wadhams Fitness Training for their support.