In top gear!

Young Durban North bike riding talent Mathew Scholtz will make a huge step up to a full-time seat in the World Supersport Championship in 2012 in the front running PTR Honda team.

Mathew, 19, who did his schooling at Crawford La Lucia and Oakridge College, made his mark on international racing back in 2008 when he was selected to contest the Red Bull Rookies MotoGP Series, taking a win and three podiums that year. He then moved on to racing in the Spanish and German 125cc Championships as well as Moto2 with impressive results.

He joins British operated PTR Honda, a front running team in the World Supersport Championship that has finished runner-up twice in 2009 and 2010 and enjoyed eight podiums out of 12 races in 2011. PTR Honda conducted testing at Almeria in Spain before travelling to Australia in February for a test at Phillip Island ahead of the opening round of the Championship there on February 26.

Ahead of his first race in the series, Mathew commented: “PTR has a reputation for bringing out the best in young riders and this is a dream come true for me. I know that with PTR I will have the bike, team and structure to show exactly what I’m capable of. I’m ready to make this step up.”

Talented bike rider Mathew Scholtz's dreams have come true with a ride for the PTR Honda team.

Mathew first started riding bikes at the age of six, soon becoming a regular at his local dirt track on his PW5. After someone spotted the young man’s talent and recommended he enter a race, Mathew quickly made a habit of annihilating the competition and soon graduated to circuit racing, under the mentorship of various coaches.

Three years spent at the Red Bull Academy in Europe provided the finishing touches to his development as a bike rider.

To get in shape for this physically demanding sport Mathew has daily gym sessions following a laid down routine, and takes his diet very seriously. He also cycles and runs. Three times a week he spends two hours riding a Moto X bike at Springfield, and, whenever possible, also rides at Phakisa or Kyalami.

For info: Contact Peter at cs@iactive.co.za