Campbell gearing up to take to the roads

Feb 7 2010 by Zoe Burn, Sunday Sun

"I figured out early on that I wanted to ride fast, and doing it on the roads wasn’t really a sensible option. I remember thinking one day ‘this is getting dangerous’, so I bought myself a race bike and gave it a go."

It transpired that Scott did have the speed and mentality to race on the track, as he soon began getting solid results, and in 2008 he received the NEMCRC Newcomers award.

But after three years on the UK’s short circuits, he is gearing up for his next challenge – real road racing.

"I love racing on the short circuits but the roads is what really appeals to me," he said.

"I don’t know if it’s because I started riding a road bike, but there is something incredibly magical and attractive about racing on the roads.

"I watch those guys at the Isle of Man and I’ve known for a while that that’s the route I want to take.

"The danger element doesn’t bother me too much, I think the idea of racing on an open road outweighs any worries like that for me."

In preparation, Scott will head out to the Isle of Man later this month in a trip organised in conjunction with the Hailwood Foundation, designed for newcomers to get to know their way around the track.

He said: "I’m really looking forward to getting out there and taking a proper look.

"I’ve been before, but this time we go around the island in cars and learn which lines to take, where, and stuff like that.

"It’s such a big circuit that it will take some learning – but I think that just makes it even more exciting.

"I have got some fab sponsors, including Ian Bell Motorcycles, Top Signs, Paton Contract Ltd, John Falla, AM Leathers, Merlin Sidecars and the Percy Arms Hotel, and without them I wouldn’t be able to chase my dream.

"Hopefully I can give them something to be proud of this year."