12-year-old Puriton based National Speedway Champion Oliver Bovingdon recently visited Taunton sponsors Cleaning Solutions UK, just a few weeks after retaining his British Speedway Championship 125cc trophy at the culmination of the 2024 season in Glasgow. This last year has seen the Chilton Trinity School student – who Richard Williams and the team at Taunton based Cleaning Solutions UK sponsor – continue to compete across the UK, as well as taking part in international races in both Sweden and Slovakia. Oliver has racked up over 25,000 miles of travel in 2024 alongside dad Chris, who as well as being driver, dedicates the majority of his time outside work to preparing and repairing the race bikes in a real father and son partnership.
After a winter break where Oliver will have opportunity to catch up with school friends and play his beloved football, 2025 sees the start of a new chapter in racing as Oliver moves up to the 250cc class, which will mean bigger tracks and offer him full stadium experience. “I’ve known most of my mates for years since we were really young and they just treat me as a normal person rather than as a UK champion” says Oliver “I’m ready for the exciting challenges that racing with a much bigger and powerful bike will bring, and the next level has a lot more opportunities for progression as part of the mainstream Grand Prix route if I’m lucky enough to be picked from the GB Academy”
“Speedway is a very supportive community” adds dad Chris. “Oliver receives excellent training and support from the GB Young Lions set up, helping him to develop both racing and interpersonal skills. We’re so proud of what Oliver has achieved so far – at the same time as keeping up with all his schooling. He’s also becoming a really useful lad in the workshop, taking responsibility for setting up his own clutches on the bikes”
“Oliver is a thoroughly nice young man” agrees Richard. “We’ve had the pleasure of supporting this great champion since he was half his current size. As well as knowing what our sponsorship enables and seeing our company name in all the race and podium photos, we hope that whilst he’s off around the UK and Europe it is a reminder of how much support he has back home here in Somerset. Sponsoring Oliver has been incredibly worthwhile and we’ll be by his side as he steps up to the next level and beyond”
You can find out more about Oliver’s endeavours, including how you can get involved, on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OBRacing15
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Photos included feature Oliver Bovingdon with Richard Williams of Cleaning Solutions UK, based at Windsor Place in Taunton https://cleaningsolutionsuk.net/