BURY racer Steve McDonald is heading for the Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix next week - on a motorbike usually used by a postman on the streets of Warrington.

Steve's mate, postie Phil Jolley, leant him the bike so he could fulfil his dream of riding in the famous race because Steve's own motorbike wasn't the right weight.

It means Phil has had to use a mountain bike to get to work but then what are mates for?

"I can't believe he's doing it but it's really good of him," said a grateful Steve. "He'll be in the Isle of Man with me along with my family and about 30 relatives to cheer me on."

Motorbike fanatic Steve only took up racing five years ago but he has already won dozens of races at famous venues like Brands Hatch, and became the British 350cc Production Champion and the Champion of Champions for New Era, the biggest club in the country.

However, to take the step up to motor cycling's big league he needed money. But he didn't have enough and, with no sponsors, Steve decided to quit life in the fast lane in May.

When his mate Phil heard this, he immediately offered him his motorbike - the one he usually uses to get to work in Warrington. But from next week, instead of trundling round the town centre roads doing 30mph, Steve will be revving it up to to 130mph and going head to head with the top racers in the world.

"I've had to alter the bike quite a bit to make it fit all the specifications so I've been fiddling about with the oil and the electrics and all the different things that need doing," said Steve, who juggles being a motorbike champ with being a husband, to wife Nicola, and a dad to their children, Hayley, 5, and Bradley, 2.

"It's going to be a really hard race. The first week is spent qualifying and we have to do a 37 mile lap in 28 minutes. Realistically I am just aiming to finish but at the back of my mind, because I'm so used to winning, I want to come first."

A good performance in the Manx Grand Prix, which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, could see Steve make the step up next year to the world famous TT race.

Racers have been killed in these events, so does Steve not feel a little bit apprehensive?

"It is a bit worrying and there are real dangers involved," he admitted. "But you can't wrap yourselve in cotton wool all your life. In five years racing I've only ever fractured my wrist and I learned from that and it won't happen again.

"There's more chance of breaking a bone playing Sunday league football."

Steve, who is now sponsored by AMS, the second largest importers of powerboats outside America, begins a week of qualifying on his mate's Yamaha 400cc bike on Monday, with the Grand Prix on Monday 28.