Antoine Richards has turned what is a popular form of transportation in his home country of Bermuda into a dream job of being a motorcycle racer.

During Daytona 200 Week, the 22-year-old Richards will make his AMA Pro Racing debut at the "World Center of Racing" in the AMA Pro SuperSport doubleheader on Thursday and Friday.

Last weekend, the native of Devonshire, Bermuda, used the Championship Cup Series and American SportBike Racing Association events to get more track time on Daytona's storied road course.

"It just takes laps really," said Richards, who is riding a Suzuki for Celtic Racing. "It's so unique and so fast. You really have to get out there and just get used to the speed and the draft because drafting here is bigger than it is anywhere else that I've been to.

"Just the prestige of the track makes it very exciting to be here and get out there on the legendary Daytona International Speedway. People point that out back home in Bermuda.

"They're like 'Wow you're going to be on the NASCAR track.' They don't believe that we actually ride motorcycles here. They didn't know that until I told people I'm going to be here."

After catching the itch to race motorcycles in 2007, Richards first started turning laps on a small quarter-mile track in Bermuda.

For the past two years, he has been racing the CCS and WERA circuits in Florida as he continued to learn the ins and outs of motorcycle racing with the ultimate goal of reaching the AMA level.

"When we turn 16, we don't get cars, we get a scooter or motorcycle," Richards said. "That's where I started – riding in the street. I decided I loved racing as a sport. I always watched it on TV. I used to watch all the AMA races, Moto GP, World Superbike and all that stuff. I was a huge fan.

"I decided that I'm pretty good at riding on the street, I'm going to buy myself a 600. I bought myself a Yamaha."

When Richards climbs aboard his motorcycle for this week's SuperSport events, he'll have plenty of family and friends watching from back in Bermuda.

"I'm going to have a lot of people support this and watch me back home, family and friends of course," Richards said. "I'll be the first Bermudian to race in the AMA class at Daytona so there will be people back home tuned in to SPEED to watch the race."