A LIFTON motorcycle racer is shifting his progress up a gear as he gets ready to join the British Superbikes Team in 2022.

Twenty-year-old Finley Arscott began racing only three years ago but has since continued accelerating his way to success. In his second year of competing he came sixth in the Thundersport Superteens in 2019 which is club racings highest level of Junior Championship, then going on to finish second in the Thundersport Superteens Championship in 2020 and first in the Thundersport Junior Cup.

Finley is no stranger to bikes, having grown up surrounded by them. ’I’ve always wanted to ride ever since I was young,’ he said. ’My Dad owned bikes and it was always my aspiration to ride but because of age restrictions I had to wait until I was older. That wait just made me want it even more though. I started racing as soon as I was 17 and threw myself right in at the deep end. I don’t think of the danger element, it’s great when the adrenaline gets going. I’d find it boring if I was in a car!’

This year Finley moved up to the 600cc Class in the No Limits Pirelli Elite 600cc, competed in four of seven rounds and finished eighth in the championship out of 47 competitors, after a collarbone injury at the first round which resulted in him being unable to race until June, which meant he missed the first half of the season. This event was his main focus this year. He additionally competed in two of seven rounds in the Thundersport 600 Elite Championship finishing 16th out of 61 and was fortunate enough to compete as a wild card in rounds of British Superbikes in BSB National Superstock 600 Championship, where he faced two tracks he had not ridden on before and bagged his highest position of 20th out of 45.

Finley has just returned from a training week in Spain, where he rode practice laps and was able to participate in testing. Tracks in the UK close during winter months due to temperature drops and difficult conditions and Finley is hoping to fly back out next year. ’It’s a bit of a pain with all the covid checks but it was great to be out on the track in Spain, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to ride for months,’ he said. ’Hopefully I’ll be going back in early March for more testing but this time I’ll be with the team so it’ll be more thorough. I’m hoping to host a sponsorship evening in Lifton to help get my name out there and fundraise.’

Looking ahead to next year regarding his team, Finley has signed with Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki powered by JR Performance Racing in British Superbikes in the National Junior Superstock 600cc Championship Class. JR Performance Racing was started in January 2019 by team owner Joe Richardson who has worked for the majority of big team names in the British Superbike Paddock; they won the BSB National Superstock 600 Championship in 2020, with one of Finley’s closest teammates coming second and moving up a class. Running alongside the British Championship, Finley is participating in the No Limits Championship and is hoping to win; these two events will give him more seat time.

Finley is aspiring to move up a class but this is results dependent. He also wishes to make it professionally and emulate the success of his role models in the sport, also having received tuition from former British Championship racers.

’I work really hard and have someone to train me and get me fit. I have a mind coach as well so we have plenty ready - next year will be good because I’m training properly,’ he said.

Superbiking is a sport with a price tag; coaches and instructors don’t come cheap. Sponsorship isn’t always easy to gain and Finley is always appealing to his local communities but so far he has had great support from friends, family members, individuals and businesses including Paul Davies and Tinhay Building Supplies in Lifton and builders merchants in Tavistock.

If you would like to help Finlay with sponsorship email: [email protected] Tel: 07740185626