Finn Smart-Weeden who lives near Faversham becomes own mechanic as he enjoys success at NG Junior SuperSport competition in Pembrey, Wales

Faversham schoolboy Finn Smart-Weeden became his own mechanic and still enjoyed plenty of success at round four of the NG Junior SuperSport competition.

Smart-Weeden, in Year 10 at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, started to make up for lost time at Pembrey, Wales, having been unable to attend the previous round due to British Superbike rules.

Saturday morning’s practice and qualifying sessions were sullied by a couple of sudden short showers and saw Smart-Weeden have to do his own wheel change to put a wet tyre on as his normal mechanic - dad Steve - was in the Isle of Man being mechanic for his brother Tom Weeden, who was racing there.

Nevertheless, he qualified comfortably on pole for the Junior SuperSport class and third in the Open500 class.

There was one race on Saturday for each class - with Smart-Weeden improving on qualifying in the Open500 to take second in class but took a convincing win in the Junior SuperSport race.

Sunday morning’s racing was almost a repeat of Saturday afternoon as Smart-Weeden won the Junior SuperSport race overall and in class. He led from the start, finishing 10 seconds ahead. He also took second again in the Open500.

By Sunday afternoon, the tyres were getting a bit frayed and the gearbox was getting grumpy so Smart-Weeden changed the gearing.

In the Open500, he came first, but in the Junior SuperSport class - despite heroic efforts - he was unable to improve on his lap record time despite still leading the race throughout, finishing significantly ahead of the other racers and posting fastest lap.

It was a long drive back to Painters Forstal but a great weekend made especially sweet, knowing Smart-Weeden had to be his own mechanic and still brought home six trophies overall.

He said: