"You can't have any fear. If you have any fear, you won't go as hard as you need to."

That is the simple straightforward logic of the Fermanagh Herald's January Sports Personality of the month, 17-year-old Lee Johnston, who this year will compete in England in the British Superstock Championship. There is no room for fear on top of a 600cc (soon to be 1000cc) bike.

You could say that Lee was born into motor sport and specifically the world of very fast bikes.

"I suppose every child grows up and their father is into football or whatever; well mine was into motorbikes and it just went from there. I was on my first bike when I was three," Lee explained

Growing up, Lee tried a few other sports but the lure of speed always had a big pull on him,

"I used to play football when I was younger but took up the bikes seriously when I was 14 and I went into the Mini Motto Irish Championships and won it so I thought I would give the bigger bikes a go."

In 2005, Lee moved onto the 600 Clubman Irish Championships. He started the season brilliantly winning a number of races before a broken collar bone and a dislocated shoulder following a crash interrupted his season. Interrupted is the correct word because Lee only missed four rounds before he was back in the seat again and winning races and finishing a highly creditable 7th in the championship.

With his appetite whetted, he went onto the Nationals proper in 2006 and his talent was soon creating lots of headlines in the motor sport world. He finished second in the Irish 600 Supersport Short Circuit Championship at his first attempt and in Mondella he set the fastest lap time and managed to beat the eventual winner of the Championship Alaister Seeley.

"I did well, I really enjoyed it and the experience should stand to me this year in England."

Lee jets off to Spain this week to test for the forthcoming season and says he 'can't wait' to board the plane.

"I will miss the family but at the end of the day you are only young once and this is a once in the life time opportunity," he stated.

The team are currently looking to secure backing for the youngster and hopefully this will be successful before the start of the season. Lee will also be competing in some Irish Superbike rounds, funds permitting, as the main aim is the British Superstock Championship, but it is always nice to race at home.

Lee is focused on his goals for the forthcoming season.

"When I'm riding at home, I will want to be winning every race and in England I would like to be in the first 15 at the start of the season but as it comes to an end I would like to be up near the front."

Lee is hoping to make the jump to the British Superbike Championships in a few years and then hopefully onto the world Super bikes if everything goes well.

"I want to do as well as I can and that means hopefully riding in the World Super bikes one day. I am going to do everything I can to achieve that goal."

If you want to help Lee out with much needed sponsorship or if simply you want to keep up to date with how he is getting on, you can log onto www.leejohnston133.com