A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy from Ferndown paid tribute to speedway rider Danny Ayres who took his own life in February this year due to mental health issues.

Freddie Piper, son of former Weymouth, Oxford and Isle of Wight rider George Piper, started his bike for two minutes in memory of Danny Ayres as part of 'Danny Day' on Sunday June 7.

Danny’s former club Mildenhall Speedway in Suffolk opened up their doors for a few riders to take bikes and start them up and asked other riders around the country to do the same.

Freddie’s grandfather and former speedway trainer at Weymouth Speedway Steve Piper said: “Today should have been a Memorial Benefit meeting at Mildenhall Speedway for Danny Ayres partner and two young daughters, but it has postponed until 2021 due to Covid-19.

“Being a student of My First Skid Speedway School on the Isle of Wight under tutor of Co-Promoter Barry Bishop, Freddie asked me if he could join in and start his bike for Danny.

“So we did it outside his great grandfather Terry Pipers House who lives along Sterte Esplanade in Poole.”

Freddie, who hails from St Leonards, rides both MotoX at Bere Regis and Speedway at his training school on the Isle of Wight.

His family filmed him starting his bike for two minutes, along with many other riders around the country, which will be added to a video compilation for Danny Ayres family.

Steve added: “Freddie's Father George Piper had raced Danny Ayres at Andrew Younie Stadium, Ryde, Isle of Wight when George rode for the Warriors in 2016.

“So, this was a fitting Tribute. We are all very proud of Freddie.”

Freddie's racing has already attracted the attention of sponsors such as APT Cars Bournemouth, Speedway Portal and Bob Cole, all former sponsors of his father George, who see great potential in Freddie from when he started riding MotoX at the age of four.