AFTER more than a decade learning his trade, Luke Hedger is ready to make an impression in the Bennetts British Superbike main class when the season begins later this month.

The Hereford-based motorcyclist is no stranger to a British Superbike weekend having spent the last 13 years competing across numerous classes, the most recent of which was the Pirelli National Superstock Championship last season.

He secured top-10 finishes during the 2023 campaign and finished the year as the leading Kawasaki rider in the class.

With that success came a full-time move to CDH Racing this season, aboard their Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

The Bristol-born speedster - who works and lives in Hereford with his fiancé and two young children - will race aboard bike number 23 in 2024.

With titles won in both the British Motostar and National Superstock 600 series during years gone by, Hedger has fought his way to the top and is now ready to mix it with some of the biggest names in the paddock.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’ve had to wait for my opportunity, and now to get the chance to have a crack at this level is something I’m definitely ready for.

“It should be a good year, and I’m excited to make the step up and show everyone that I belong in the main class.

“It’s a win-win for me. I’m racing against a lot of good teams in this series, so for me to be in that paddock and battling against them boosts me as a rider anyway.

“If I can beat them on my setup, it’ll show what kind of rider I am and can be. I fully know it’s going to be a real test, but I want to prove to myself that I can do this, and also show the team that they were right to place so much faith in me.”

After failing to score in the opening round Hedger will be hoping to show his calibre this weekend during the second round at Oulton Park this Bank Holiday weekend.

“I just want to score points, that’s the main goal,” added Hedger. “If I can do that I'll be happy, and if I achieve anything above that, that'd be a bonus.

“My long-term goal would be pushing the top 10, and I feel there will be opportunities for me to do that. There are a couple of tracks that I really like, and I know I can get the best out of myself on them.”

“The first couple of rounds will give me the opportunity to test the waters a little bit. I feel like my progression as a rider as the year goes on will be massive, so it certainly would be a bonus if I can get a good result at the start of the season.”