OSWALDTWISTLE teenager Josh Graham is making a name for himself on the karting scene after being ranked eighth in the country for 2012.

Josh, 15, has been impressing in the National Kart Racing As-sociation Championships after being crowned northern champion.

And the Hollins Technology College pupil recently took sixth place at the national grand final at Larkhall in Scotland to put him eighth in the rankings for the year.

Josh had been 15th in the country two years ago and was also northern champion last year, when he did not take part in the national championships.

He has already collected a host of trophies in a burgeoning career – including winning this year’s title in the junior blue races at his club, the Cheshire Kart Racing Club, at Hooton Park on the Wirral.

Josh’s love for the sport stems back to the age of two, when he was bought a quad bike and also used a sit-on lawnmower to perfect his skills.

“I’m immensely proud of him, he’s done very well,” said grand-father Bob, who runs the New Moss Garage on Haslingden Road and travels with Josh to events.

“He’s a good footballer too, he plays for Greyhound Ford.

“He follows Formula 1 and from when he was two years old he would sit on my knee on the lawnmower on the field at the back of the house.

“When he was young he would spend hours and hours going round. It is very expensive to progress in motor sport and we haven’t got the money or the big sponsorship, but he is going to compete in the national cham-pionship again next year.

“He’s respected by all the racers from Scotland to the Midlands, they all know him.

“He will give his rivals in-formation to help them, he doesn’t hold anything back. And he’s a safe driver, he doesn’t take anyone out.”

Josh stepped up to the junior categories after previously im-pressing in the cadet section, which caters for young racers up to the age of 11.

At the age of 10 he produced a stunning performance to beat a national champion in just his fourth ever race to win the two-stroke cadet class at Jersey Kart and Motor Club’s electric kart weekend.