Bermudian motorcycle rider Antoine Richards leaves the Island today, bound for the Mecca of racing, Daytona Beach, to compete in his first race as a professional.

Richards will be racing a 600cc Suzuki GSX-R in the AMA Pro Championship at Daytona International Speedway on March 4 and 5.

"I am really excited," said Richards as he prepared to fly out.

Richards has recently been invited to join the Celtic Racing Team which he said would be a great help.

"Now I can just concentrate on the racing," he said.

The 22-year-old signed a management contract with Kreig Robinson who also acts as the director of business for the Michael Jordan Motor Racing Team Robinson acts as Richards' agent and has brought in veteran riding coach Jason Pridmore to help out the Bermudian rider.

Pridmore is a legend in the sport and had previously ridden for the Jordan team. He was the 1997 AMA 750 Supersport Champion, 2002 AMA Formula Extreme Champion and the 2003 FIM World Endurance Champion.

Richards said: "My manager got me on the Celtic Race Team which is an American team but run by an Irish guy. They specialise in young, fast riders – particularly from the UK.

"This is one of the best teams for development purposes. Some of their ex-racers have gone on to become world champion riders. They have a good development programme so I am in very good hands.

"There is a good support system – I will have my own mechanic and crew chief. They have their own motor home trailers. Now I can hand my bike off to the team and just focus on riding.

"I don't have to do any of my own mechanical work now – just strictly riding and that takes away a lot of worries. If you try and do too many things at the professional level you will not win. You have to have the team support there. Now I am going to be taken care of like everybody else."

Richards will have a week in Daytona before his professional debut.

"The bike will be at Daytona when I get there. But before the professional race next week I will have some practising to get used to the bike and the track even though I have ridden at Daytona before.

"This weekend I will be participating in some amateur races to get used to the bike. Also the track is unique so the more I ride on it the better it will be.

"I am so excited, this is the big show, the real deal."

Highlights of Richards' race will be shown on the cable network SPEED TV (Channel 52) on March 7 at 12:30 a.m.

Richards said: "Any Bermudians who may be in or around Daytona for the annual Daytona Bike Week festival are more than welcome to come and watch my race. I will be the first Bermudian to compete in this class at the pro level and I will be the only black competitor in the championship."

Tickets can be bought online at www.amaproracing.com or at the track.

Richards came into motorcycle racing at a late age compared to many of his peers.

He has only been racing for three years.

"I was 19 years old when I had my first race and that is rather old to start," admitted Richards, nephew of former PLP leader, the late Lois Browne-Evans.

"When I go to the US and I tell them that I only started racing three years ago they are amazed. Most riders start with motocross when they are five years old. I have been told that I have a natural talent for racing."

Richards said he started as an amateur and then moved up to the expert class. Now he feels he is ready for the professional ranks.

"I started in Bermuda with the (Bermuda Moto Racing Club) club at Southside," he said.

Although he doesn't race at Southside anymore, Richards does keep a 600cc bike in Bermuda and practises at the East End track.

"Most of my racing since then has been in the US east coast working with AB-1 Motorsports. Last year I was on the expert team and raced in places like Virginia, Atlanta and Alabama.

His bike can reach speeds of up to 165 mph "depending on the track".

The Bermudian racer added: "I have had a lot of help to get here particularly from my local sponsors, On-Site Engineering, Magnum Power Force gym, and VIP Auto Service."