YOUNG Cooper Danaher isn't afraid of speed.
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The eight-year-old is progressing to be a junior motocross champion.
Cooper, who wears the number 463, won last weekend's competition in Portland with wins in the 50cc division before taking sixth place overall in the 65cc division to lead the points in the western region's championship 50cc class.
And he has an aim to win his division, on a 50cc bike, at the Western Region's and Vic Titles later this year, as well as to place in the top three at the Aussie Titles. On his 65cc bike, Cooper wants to place in the top 10 as it is his first year racing in the higher division.
Cooper started riding at just four years of age, with the help of his dad, Tim.
He began training in Allendale at the Creswick and District Motorcycle Club and is now working on his skill development with coach Jades Oates, who he has been training with since last November.
His mum Clare Cummings said Cooper's improvement had been phenomenal in both his attitude towards racing and in trying to eliminate his fears around getting on the bike following an accident last year, but also in improving his skills and having the ability to predict and analyse the track.
Cooper broke the growth plate in his ankle after a fall while training at Monza Park last year. But despite being in a cast for 10 weeks followed by six weeks in a moonboot, he has not lost his passion for the sport.
Cooper wants to be a professional motocross rider when he grows up. He has dreams to travel to America to ride in the Supercross and to travel to Europe to compete.
He said he loved the sport because he has lots of fun and has made lots of friends while competing.
"I have lots of fun doing the big jumps. I like training with my trainer and practising every week," he said.
Ms Cummings said Cooper was doing really well given he had only been competing for four years.
She said Cooper trained every week and the family travelled around Victoria, and even the nation, so he could take part in competitions.
Cooper just landed his first sponsor, Solid Concreting, which his mum said will help with the costs of travel and equipment.