YOUNG motocross rider, Adam Marsden, recently spent a dream weekend training with two of the biggest stars of the sport from America.

Eleven-year-old Adam completed a successful first season in 85cc racing, finishing runner-up in the Phoenix Northwest Championship.

He was backed by Keighley motorcycle dealer Colin Appleyard and rode in the Team Appleyard colours and went from strength to strength against older riders.

At the end of the season his parents out-bid the opposition during an auction organised by the Phoenix Northwest motocross club to win the prize of a weekend of International Supercross action at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

During the weekend Adam was able to meet his racing idols, US motocross stars Mike and Jeff Alessi.

Not only did he meet the super-quick teenagers, but had two one hour riding school sessions with other racers and stayed at the same hotel as the American stars. He was also invited to spend the weekend in their pits.

They became friends and Mark was given a very special treat - he spent a whole half an hour one-on-one session training with the US riders.

Mike rewarded Adam for his enthusiasm by giving him his race shirt, which he signed for him.

Mike and Jeff's dad, Tony, even invited Adam to fly over to the States to stay with the Alessi boys at their home in California later this year.

"It really was a dream come true for Adam. Mike and Jeff Alessi are two of the biggest names in the sport and they became very good friends over the weekend - we hope to be able to travel to America later in the year," said Adam's father, Grant.

n Picture shows Adam (centre) with his father and the Alessi brothers Mike and Jeff at the Millennium Stadium.