DOUBLE British under-16 champion Nathan Greaves is the latest exciting winter signing for Dudley Heathens.

Greaves, who won’t be 15 until February, will race alongside fellow teenager boy Max Clegg at reserve for the former Cradley club – with the pair having a combined age of just 30.

Heathens won the race for Greaves, who attracted interest from several clubs after winning both the 250cc and 500cc British title last season.

The Chesterfield-based rider joins Clegg, Lewis Blackbird, Dan Greenwood and Ashley Morris in the new-look side for the new campaign.

He said: “I’m very pleased to be joining Dudley. I went down there last season to have a look at what their meetings were all about because I’d heard so much about them.

“Sam Ermolenko has been advising me and I had lots of things to consider but one of the reasons I went for Dudley was because of the Wolverhampton track. It’s a good track to learn on and hopefully I will get the place weighed up in competitive racing fairly quickly.

“I know all the lads in the Dudley team. Ashley will be a great skipper, Lewis Blackbird will be a good signing and Dan Greenwood is also from Chesterfield.

“Max and me know each other well and he was another reason why I wanted to join Dudley, to be in the same team as him.

“I had options and I had to weigh everything up but I just feel Dudley is the best place for me to start my career.

“I’d like to thank the other interested parties but I took on board advice from people I respect and the opportunity to join Dudley was too good to turn down at this stage.

“I’m not going to put myself under any pressure and I know the Dudley fans are brilliant, I can’t wait to start racing in front of them every home meeting, it’s an amazing atmosphere.”

Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson is keen to emphasise the club put no pressure on Greaves to join them.

He said: “Nathan had several options and I am delighted he has joined us. I am so looking forward to seeing two 15-year-old British lads at reserve for us.

“We haven’t broken the bank or anything like that. We are very fortunate at Dudley that we are able to call on some sponsorship, our Supporters Club HSSC raised over £2,000 for the riders from the 50/50 draw last season.

“We gave Nathan time to think about it and we only wanted him in our side if he was totally sure he wanted to ride for Dudley. I’d like to put on record my appreciation to those highly respected individuals who recommended he joins us. They know who they are.”