A MOTORBIKE racer has had a meeting with royalty during a successful week at one of the biggest events on the calendar.

Daley Mathison, who lives in Stockton, finished second in the TT Zero Race, part of the 2018 Isle of Man TT Festival which took place earlier this month.

His podium finish in the Zero Race, which features electric powered bikes that race without the use of carbon based fuels, saw him being presented with his prize from future king the Duke of Cambridge.

The electric race was the highlight of a successful weekend which also saw him compete in the RL360 Superstock TT and Supersport TT 1 events.

The Zero Race sees riders race one lap of the Snaefell Mountain Course, which is just under 38 miles.

Mr Mathison said: "Being on the podium is always fantastic, but we are striving to get the fastest lap time.

"Our lap time last year was good enough to get into third place and I think this year we have done ourselves justice.

"I was hoping we’d be up there near the 120mph, and I thought after the problems the other teams were having during the week they wouldn’t have gone quite as quick as they did – if they hadn’t done, we would have won the race."

Mr Mathison began racing when he was 12-years-old and was soon attracting attention from the motorbike world.

"Like the others we had a few problems during the week and we were a bit unsure how we’d get on during the race but once I got a couple of miles in I got my head down and just gave it everything I had," he said.

"I saw the winner in the distance and kept getting glimmers of hope, but second place I am over the moon with that and it is one step higher than it was last year."

Mr Mathison moved to Northern Ireland for two seasons in 2010 to further his development, and has since achieved dozens of podium successes - including a number of race wins.

"I think the electric class comes under a bit of scrutiny – a lot of people are asking how good of a race it really is, but now that we’ve got another manufacture fighting up there with the Mugen guys it has made it a lot more of a race.

"You can’t say enough for how hard the boys work and I am just glad they stick with me and keep putting me out there.

"I keep trying to prove to them that I am worth it and hopefully they have seen that."