Speedway: Premier league lures Hawke's Bay prodigy

Hawke's Bay's Bradley Wilson-Dean in action for the Eastbourne Eagles in Britain.

Hawke's Bay solobike rider Bradley Wilson-Dean has had his fair share of knocks on and off the track but he continues to exceed expectations in Britain.

When the 21-year-old former Karamu High School student returns to the United Kingdom next week he will prepare for a one-season Premier League contract with the Somerset Rebels. The only Kiwi to race in England this year, Wilson-Dean, will become the first Kiwi to race in the league in five years.

"I'm pretty stoked. I had high expectations of myself but I didn't think I would end up exceeding them like I have ... I thought I would spend a couple of seasons in the National League before making the step up," Wilson-Dean said.

During his stint with the Eastbourne Eagles this year the two-time New Zealand Under-21 champion became the No1 rider for the team and was the top National League rider for three months. Among his highlights was winning the Champion of Sussex title in his fourth week with the team and scoring a 15-point maximum against Kings Lynn.

"I also managed to beat Elite League rider Adam Ellis a couple of times, as well as some other good riders."

"I made enough money to live off over there and also to come back home for this six-week holiday," Wilson-Dean recalled.

Originally he planned to race while home on holiday but he opted to freshen up after having three concussions and a torn knee ligament entered in his racing log book while with the Eagles.

"I'm heaps better now thanks to the break," Wilson-Dean said.

Off the track Wilson-Dean was involved in a dispute over averages in July which threatened to end his career. However the issue was resolved in time for him to sign with the seven-strong Rebels team which will include four elite league riders among three Americans, three British riders and Wilson-Dean.

"My contract is for one year initially but if everything goes well I want to continue at this level. I've got to make a big effort with the team's fans and sponsors. The public relations side is important ... you can be one of the best riders but if you don't get on with the fans you may not be wanted for the following season," Wilson-Dean said.

"I was pretty lucky to get this contract as it was the only Premier League offer I had. Our season starts in March and, depending on how well we do, we go right through until the end of October. When we're busy we could be racing every day of the month ... I'll be ready for that because in the National League it wasn't uncommon for us to do six meetings in eight days."

In addition to meetings in Britain, Wilson-Dean will also race in Denmark, Italy and Germany.

A son of veteran Hawke's Bay rider Darrin Wilson, Wilson-Dean, gravitated towards solobike racing at the age of 11 after a solid motorsport grounding in motocross. In 2011 he finished fourth in the world under-17 championships in Sweden.

Before beginning his contract with the Eagles, Wilson-Dean, had raced in California, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Poland and Sweden.