Leon Hunt has been picked out as a future world beater.

The motorcycle rookie, from Brighton, has clinched a place in the Auto Cycle Union Road Race Academy at Lilleshall which grooms potential champions of the future.

He believes a three-year stint at the national set-up will help him reach the top.

Hunt said: "To be selected is a big confidence-booster for me and it will give me my best chance of making it."

The Patcham High pupil undergoes off-track preparation during the winter and next month begins testing for the new season when he will represent the Academy in national series events.

He said: "The off-track stuff is in-depth. They look at the psychology involved. They call it mind racing. They assimilate racing and find out what's going on in your head. They instruct you about diet and fitness.

"There's also a section for media training, so speaking to The Argus is good practice."

Hunt almost missed the selection day at Rockingham after crashing his Aprilia RS125 24 hours earlier.

"I hadn't been on the track so thought I'd get familiar with it but the engine seized. Fortunately I was okay and we had spares so I could attend selection.

"I was lucky and able to show what I could do. I almost mucked things up with my verbal presentation about my most significant achievements but managed to impress the judges enough."

Hunt, 15 is not allowed to ride a bike bigger 125cc because of his age, but he has already had four accidents on the track.

He said: "I went into a wall at 60mph in the South of France. I took the corner too fast and there was no run-off. Funnily enough I'm going back to the track for testing with the Academy. I'm looking to lay a ghost to rest there."

He is certainly aware of safety issues, particularly after witnessing a fatal crash.

"I was at Snetterton watching a race and a rider died after hitting and going over a bike that was hidden from his view. That was sobering.

"You try not to think about riders getting hurt and sometimes killed before you race and I make sure I compete at tracks which have good safety set-ups."

Hunt, who can only ride on a track because he is not old enough for the road, is determined to follow the Academy philosophy of positive thinking.

He said: "The Academy encourage you to think 'you're going to stay on' rather than 'you're not going to crash'.

"I have the same approach about the result. I set realistic goals for myself and try to achieve them."

Ironically the accidents have spurred him on.

He said: "At the beginning my family wanted me to be more cautious but I found when I came back from accidents I would race faster. You get more determined. Now I just go for it, while being as safe as possible."

He has the racing bug.

"It is great fun. I get a little nervous before the start when we're all sitting on our bikes at the assembly point in the paddock and I am bad off the start. But once I'm away I'm okay.

"I think about each corner, when to brake and what position to be in. If I want to pass the guy in front I have to think about how to do it a few corners before I make my move. Concentration is vital for avoiding mistakes."

Racing became his passion after a try it out day at Darley Moors in Warwickshire for his 14th birthday.

He is inspired by his heroes like Mick Doohan, the five-time world 500cc champion, and Brits James Toseland and Chaz Davies who compete in world series.

Hunt said: "Mick was so consistent even after he came back after nearly losing a leg in an accident.

"James and Chaz came from the same series I rode in the summer and that makes me think I might be able to follow them.

"James is in world superbikes and finished third overall while Chaz has had top ten finishes in the world 250cc GP. Top riders like Niall McKenzie and Carl Fogarty also offer advice.

In his debut season, Hunt was 21st out of 36 in the prestigious national Motor Racing Organisation under-21s Series raced at the country's leading tracks including Silverstone and Brands Hatch.

He also competed in the British Motor Cycle Racing Club Series, which has no age limit, and was 20th out of 44.

"I love it. I had a slow start in the MRO but when my bike became competitive it went very well and I found I could race fast.

"The BMCRC wasn't such a high a standard but helped give me extra experience."

This year's campaign will be sponsored mainly by his dad Andy, with the help of Southern Electrical Trade Suppliers (Hove).

Andy said: "I estimate last year cost about £25,000. I do property refurbishments and fortunately I had a good year. This year we hope to come in under budget, at about £20,000."

With Mum Diane, Hunt has supportive parents who also worry. Andy said: "To be honest we don't like him racing. But we came to an agreement.

"If he wanted to do it he had to knuckle down to his school work. It's given him a focus and his work and behaviour have improved."