Fulford'S multiple British grass-track champion Paul Cooper is making rapid progress in his bid to hit the same heights in speedway.

Cooper has already jumped from number six rider to number two at Sheffield Pirtek Tigers during his first full season at the Premier League Club, having hit an impressive meeting points average of 6.8.

Each rider races four times at every meeting with three points for a first-place finish, two points for second and one point for third.

Cooper's efforts have helped Sheffield rise to second in the 15-team table behind Berwick with eight meetings left and the former Fulford School pupil can only get better after Financial IQ's Tadcaster office splashed out £3,000 for a new 500cc bike.

Fellow York resident and Tigers captain Sean Wilson, who recently returned to action after recovering from a broken vertebrae, is also nurturing his 23-year-old protg's talents.

Cooper said: "I was the new guy at the club and in the league really so it was a big gamble by Sheffield because of my lack of experience but it's gone pretty well.

"The team have really helped me with their knowledge of tracks and I am hoping to help the club win the Premier League and a few trophies if not this year then within the next couple.

"Eventually, I want to go on to represent team GB and get into the grand prix because I have made it that far in grass-tracking."

Cooper first took up grass-tracking at Pickering when his father, Clive, gave up racing motor-bikes to concentrate on helping his son fulfil his potential.

Four British youth titles followed between the ages of 11 and 16. He then went on to win the 250cc senior Championship in 2000 and 350cc honours in 2002.

He is still combining his twice-weekly speedway commitments at venues as far-flung as Glasgow, the Isle of Wight and Exeter with working for Peter Thompson Joinery and competing in the National Grass-Track 350cc Championships, in which he currently lies in second place.

Cooper is also travelling to France, Germany and Holland in a bid to improve on his tenth-place finish in the 2003 European Championships, as well as hoping to earn a qualifying place for the World Championships in New Zealand and racing for a British team he first represented at the age of 18.

Having first bought a speedway bike last winter, Cooper attended a handful of open days before trying out the track at Sheffield.

The Tigers were sufficiently impressed to ask Cooper to race in the last 12 meetings of their Conference season, which is used as a breeding ground, and then offered him a full-time professional contract. Fellow Premier League clubs Hull, Berwick, Workington and Glasgow also expressed an interest.

Sheffield are destined to receive an invitation into the Sky-televised Elite League this season but will probably decline because of the extra costs involved.

If Cooper is, therefore, to pursue his international speedway dreams, he may have to uproot with Coventry and Manchester-based club Belle Vue the nearest Elite League tracks.

Otherwise, he will be reliant on how ambitious Sheffield and fellow Premier League outfit Hull or new Conference club Scunthorpe are in coming years.

Elite League competition would also enable Cooper to make a living from a sport that is currently proving an expensive pursuit.

Maintenance is the individual's responsibility and chains last five meetings before needing to be replaced because of accumulated grit.

A new rear tyre is also required for every meeting and a gallon of neat methanol, which powers the bikes, normally lasts two weeks, while 1.5 litres of oil is used per meeting.

European grass-track trips see Cooper and dad Clive save on accommodation costs by sleeping overnight in their converted van.

Financial IQ's donation of a new bike will also enhance Cooper's chances of success.

He said: "You need two bikes as you can always come off one but you also need two that are different in terms of suitability as all tracks differ in size and surface. Sometimes you need a bigger engine and sometimes a smaller one. I am learning about different set-ups at different tracks all the time."

Simon Herbert, of Financial IQ, grew up as a speedway fan and has recently rekindled his love for the sport by watching the Tigers.

He said: "Paul needs money behind him as he has been marred by bad machinery and we feel we could not have picked a better person to be associated with. He is a young local lad doing well and we want to give him the best chance."

Cooper is also sponsored by KM Barker Sales, Malton, Harsh Tipping Gear, Full Sutton and NTB racing, Wigginton.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, August 24, 2005