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At the beginning of 2003 the UK supplier for MetraKit tuning parts, BEK Wholesale Ltd, started importing the newly designed and developed MetraKit Mini GP bike. The machine has all the features of an out and out GP style racer and had fantastic potential to solve all the "too young", "too small", "too powerful" problems that can arise with 8 to 15 year olds wanting to race GP style motorcycles.

Then came the problem of how and where to race it. The only class that seemed open to it was the "up to 125cc" open class run at many ACU club events throughout the UK. Even then it did not comply with minimum wheel size regulation. Open class racing motorcycles must have 16" or bigger wheels. After 2 months of negotiation with the ACU it was agreed that the Mini GP could be run on a trial basis at an ACU meeting at the Darley Moor Circuit. It could run in with the Aprilia 125cc bikes and JRA 80cc bikes but not count in the results. These two classes were running together, but counting as separate races, with the Aprilia bikes starting from rows one and two on the grid and, to leave more space, the JRA bikes from rows four and five. The MetraKit could start from behind these.
 

The BEK management now had a problem. They had the bike; but no rider. They had been given very little notice of the ACU decision and the original choice, a young Motocross rider, had to meet commitments for the team he rode for.

A chance phone call to BEK for information on MetraKit parts from Clive Jones, a motorcycle dealer, lead to mention of the problem. Clive made the suggestion that his 12 year-old son Chris, a Championship winner Minimoto rider, could solve the problem. Although Chris was a complete unknown to BEK, and the MiniGP a complete uknown to Clive and Chris, it was mutually decided to "give it a go". The Mini GP, increased to 70cc using an off the shelf MetraKit tuning kit (to give Chris at least some chance against his larger engined rivals), was transported to Darley Moor. Roger and Rob from BEK located Chris and dad Clive in the paddock and, having introduced themselves to each other, Chris was shown the bike he was to ride for the first time. Chris was sent off to ride, slowly, up and down the paddock road several times to get the feel of the controls. He was instructed to take it very easy in practice as the machine was not fully run-in and the track was damp. In addition Chris had never seen the track before and, in fact, had never ridden at a full size circuit before. Chris only completed three practice laps before the session was stopped due to a fallen rider. As a one day meeting no time was available to give more practice sessions, so that was that.
 

Time for the race came very soon after and, again, Chris was given the instruction to ride well within the limits as nothing more than a finish was expected of him. Placed at the very back of the grid the little MetraKit ("shouldn' t be allowed here, it' ll only get in the way" had been one of the many pre-race comments) looked to have a very uphill climb to be anything other than an also ran. It seems Chris didn' t think the same way; off the line looking as though he had been riding the bike forever, he was mid field as they approached the first corner and fourth as they came out! Despite Darley Moor being a fast circuit more suited to the 125cc Aprilia machines Chris held that place to the end well ahead of the other 125s and JRA 80 machines. In the following three races that day Chris managed two more fourth places and sixth in the wet last race, his first on a geared bike in the rain.

By the end of the season Chris had ridden at circuits all over the country, gained a National Race Licence, won several races outright (even against full GP 125cc bikes on twisty circuits), rode as an invited rider at the "Race of the Year" meeting at Mallory Park, and broke the 80cc lap record at Anglesey.

In 2004, at thirteen, he moved onto a Chapman-Tyrell sponsored GP 125 Honda at MRO meetings, and putting all his MetraKit experience to good use, went on to win the series.