A Mearns teenager with dreams of making it big in motor sport has bounced back after a “heartbreaking” loss to flooding.
Ashley Robson from Johnshaven was flying high in the 400cc to 650cc Scottish motorcycle racing class before Storm Frank struck at the end of last year.
The 17-year-old is one of only seven female competitors among more than 200 boys on the circuit, and was due to start competing for XL Racing at Knockhill Championships in April.
But flood damage to the Robson family lockup in Craigo, which was under 4ft of water when the North Esk overtopped, saw Ashley’s dreams of stepping up a gear take a knock as her engines and mechanical parts were ruined.
However the community has rallied around to help the Mearns Academy pupil, nicknamed Doofus, get to the Isle of Man for trials this weekend.
“We were in a lockup in Craigo, which was 4ft deep with water during the flooding,” she said.
“We lost a lot of stuff. The engines had been taken out of both our bikes and were sat on the floor.
“They were totally water damaged. Just seeing all that stuff gone, and the hard work that had gone into it, was heartbreaking.”
Offers of help have come in from local businesses such as Phill G Services and Stewart Hamilton, and Ashley has been loaned a bike for the Manx GP “newcomer’s weekend” to get her season back on track.
“Any help that we get is never too small,” she said.
“It’s not a cheap sport. All the money I get from my work I put into it.”
Following the Isle of Man weekend, competitors will race on the island for three weeks in August.
Ashley, who works at the Roo’s Leap restaurant in Montrose, stuffs her long red hair into her helmet for the races.
She reaches speeds of 130mph on the long straights at Knockhill in grid races of 32 riders.
Her mother, Hazel Robson, said Ashley’s passion for bikes is more than a match for her male colleagues.
You can follow Ashley’s progress on Facebook.