New Zealand’s Jake Lewis could be the next motorcycle road-race champion from this part of the world, certainly if he can continue to impress in Europe.

The young man from Rangiora raced his way to the No.3 spot in the New Zealand 600cc supersport class at last season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships before immediately packing his bags to tackle the eight-round European Junior Cup.

He tasted immediate success, taking his Honda CBR500R to victory at the series opener at Aragon, in Spain, in April.

He had mixed results in the rounds that followed in Holland and Italy, but he was still fourth overall in the standings as the riders arrived at Silverstone for the fifth round of eight at the weekend, the race sharing the programme as a support class to the World Superbike Championships.

Lewis then struck gold again, becoming the first rider to win two races in the championship European Junior Cup.

Starting from eighth position on the Silverstone grid, the determined Kiwi was leading at the end of the opening lap before being involved in a titanic fight with 13 other riders for the next six laps.

There were no less than eight different leaders in the opening three laps and at time riders seven abreast into the fast right hander at the end of the straight.

With positions changing faster than anyone watching could track, it was difficult to predict the final outcome and as the riders were half way around the final lap, a collision including several of the leading bunch brought out the red flags, meaning the result would be taken from the previously completed lap.

This gave the victory to the young South Islander, while Britain’s James Flitcroft claimed a superb second position in front of an appreciative home crowd and Hungarian Richard Bodis secured his second podium placing in third.

“That was a great race,” said Lewis. “I was leading but got passed and then we all went down. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who is helping me, a big hello to everyone back home and a massive thank you to my dad.”

Meanwhile, Spain’s Javier Orellana finished fourth at Silverstone, ahead of France’s Robin Anne and Spain’s Augusto Fernandez.

Italy’s Michael Canducci kept his record of scoring in every race with a seventh placing, pole sitter Guillaume Raymond, of France, was eighth, Italy’s Kevin Manfredi was ninth, and British rider Josh Harland completed the top 10.

The European Junior Cup is the entry-level class to the World Superbike Championships and is open to riders from all around the world aged between 14 and 19.

All the competitors ride identical Honda CBR500R bikes and the series is considered a stepping stone to the top level, with the rider who eventually wins the series earning a paid-up ride in a 600cc superstock world championship team.

Lewis is actually one of four New Zealand riders entered in the Cup this season, the others being Wellington’s Sam Croft and Aucklanders Connor London and Blayes Heaven.

Croft finished 16th at Silverstone at the weekend, while London and Heaven finished 25th and 26th respectively.

“I raced in Europe last year too and that was a real eye-opener,” said Lewis. “These European riders are just so fast. It is such a big jump in the level of competition (compared to racing in New Zealand),” said Lewis.

“I only did half the series last year but I’ll be doing the full championship this season and first prize is a paid-up ride in the Superstock class.”

The Honda CBR500R that is used by all the riders in the European Junior Cup has only just recently been introduced into the New Zealand market and it retails for just over $10,000.

It is a LAM’s (learner approved motorcycle), model too, meeting the rules which changed along with the licensing laws in New Zealand in October to base learner restrictions on a bike’s power-to-weight ratio, rather than on capacity alone.

“LAM’s is a much more sensible approach to licensing,” said Blue Wing Honda’s events and race team Co-ordinator, Auckland’s Peter Finlay.

“These are great bikes to start out on. They are easy to ride and yet still very capable on and off the race track for both new and seasoned riders. It’s great to see Jake Lewis performing so well and enjoying racing the new Honda CBR500R.”

Championship Standings

Jake Lewis, New Zealand: 66 points

Guillaume Raymond, France: 56 points

Robin Anne, France: 56 points

Michael Canducci, Italy: 55 points

Augusto Fernandez, Spain: 46 points

James Flitcroft, Great Britain: 45 points

2013 European Junior Cup Calendar:

Round 1: Aragon, Spain, April 14

Round 2: Assen, Holland, April 28

Round 3: Monza, Italy, May 12

Round 4: Imola, Italy, June 30

Round 5: Silverstone, UK, August 4

Round 6: Nurbergring, Germany, September 1

Round 7: Magny Cours, France, October 6

Round 8: Jerez, Spain, October 20