A six-year-old boy has won national off-road motorbiking titles, despite only taking up the sport during lockdown last year.

Tommy Rowan, from Llandrindod Wells, has won the 2021 Welsh Open Hare & Hound Auto Championships, as well as the Fast Eddy Racing Auto Championship. Since beginning to compete, he has been a part of 25 races - picking up an incredible 24 podium finishes.

Tommy’s success has come in enduro. Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on extended cross-country, off-road courses - consisting of many different obstacles and challenges. The racing, which lasts one hour, is renowned for being particularly challenging and physical.

Tommy first got on a motorbike last year during lockdown.

Proud dad Martin said: “Tommy was always keen on football, then lockdown came along and we were stuck at home, so we brought him a little bike to ride on the farmers field behind the house, which is where it all started.

“He took to it quite well, so we took him out most days and he absolutely loved it. He was getting better and better, so we brought him a proper bike that he could race - a Husqvarna TV50.”

After realising that Tommy had natural flair on the bike, the family decided to enter him in his first race in May this year.

Martin said: “I put him in to his first hour-long race which was right up in north Wales. It was a very wet and very hard race, he was the youngest on the line by over a year and came away fourth out of 10 riders, and since then we have travelled hundreds of miles to three different championships.”

Tommy’s successes then came thick and fast, with the rider picking up two championships in quick succession before narrowly missing out on another gold medal at the WOR events championship to a competitors two years older than him.

Known as Tommy Rowan #100, the young superstars is now looking to step up to a more powerful motorcycle class.

“He’s has already been offered a ride when he steps up to the 65cc class but we can’t mention who just yet,” said Martin.

“As you can imagine for a parent to be asked that we were over the moon.”

Motorcycle racing runs in the family, with Martin having raced bikes since he was 20 years old. Tommy uses the number 100 on his bike in homage to his dad’s number when he won the expert British Sidecar Championship in 2016.

“Next year Tommy will also step up to the expert auto class, which is a huge step but I’m sure he will do us proud,” said Martin. “Everyone that has watched him has said for 6 years old he has a natural talent and has a huge future ahead of him in the enduro world.”

Tommy is a pupil at Crossgates Primary School in Llandrindod Wells and despite already amassing a following among his peers, keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground.

Martin said: “He’s is already a very popular kid in the races and has made tons of new friends all over the country.

“He’s very quiet and shy, but the minute he puts his helmet on you wouldn’t think it was the same boy.

“If he’s raced on the weekend, the teachers already know he’s won on the Monday and he’s got his little fan club of girls in school!”

The top speed of Tommy’s bike is around 45-50mph, which he has hit a number of times while out on the track.

“It takes some watching even being his dad - his mum closes her eyes half the time!” Martin said.

Tommy is already looking forward to next year where they will be doing the Welsh Championship again, the Fast Eddy Racing Championship, the WOR Event Championship, and potentially more events is he is able to enter.