Whether you’re an international footballer, a Michelin starred chef or a championship motocross rider, you can’t say you’ve really made it until you’re celebrated in your home town. It’s all about becoming a local hero, and competing in the RHL Weston Beach Race gave off-road motorcyclist James Dodd the opportunity to do just that. Having grown up in the area and living just a short donkey ride from the beach on which the race takes place, James is about as local as you can get, short of actually moving into one of the beach huts which no doubt grace Weston’s historic seafront.

His career very much on the ascendant, James has overcome the injuries and costly mechanical issues which, after an impressive start, threatened to derail his ambitions for motocross glory. He has now been able to attract the sponsorship of a number of local businesses which provides vital funding, and has re-established himself as an extremely promising contender not only at this event but also at the many other challenging motocross competitions across the country.

Here he fills us in on his racing strategies (and breakfast habits), the local motocross scene, and his hopes for the future, against the somewhat overcast backdrop of Weston’s impressively wide stretch of sandy beach. James comes across as a really likeable, down-to-earth sort of bloke, so the whole of Weston will undoubtedly be rooting for him, whenever and wherever he competes. At the very least it’ll be standing room only on the beach at the next RHL Weston Beach Race.