Champion

Now he plans to take on the world and compete internationally at famous tracks such as Daytona and Le Mans.

Charlie, who is managing director of Malton Laser, started his career as a 23-year-old in 1980 winning the Marlboro-sponsored British Championship the following year and in 1984, finishing 5th in the World Formula One Championship as well as being named Best Newcomer at the Isle of Man TT.

He retired in 1990 – aged 33 – due to the cost of racing, family reasons and because “I got told I was too old”.

But after scaring his brother and a friend witless during a drive to a British Super Bikes race at Mondello Park, Dublin, he was persuaded to make a comeback.

Charlie said: “I had treated myself to a very fast car but they told me off for driving too fast! They said ‘You should go back to racing. You have got to do something again’ and that’s why I did it – because they convinced me.

“I remember thinking where would I finish? I’ve been competitive, I have enjoyed it. I have had a lot of fun’.”

Charlie sold his M5 V10 and bought two motorbikes entering the 2006 British Superbikes Superstock class halfway through the championship and riding in the remaining nine meetings.

He said: “I put the bike away for the winter thought about what I had achieved and decided I would do a whole year of racing in 2007.” He rode in both the KTM Super Duke Series and the clubmans series until August before making the decision to concentrate on the clubmans championship where he lay third in the table – 14 points behind leader James Slater, 30.

The next two rounds saw him close to within striking distance of top spot with an all-or-nothing battle planned for the final race at Cadwell Park.

Charlie said: “James was, without doubt, my equal. I thought it was going to be a close battle but I set pole position and I won by a good margin.

“I was lapping at least one-and-a-half seconds faster than the second placed man so I dominated what was going to be a very close race.

“I think it’s a fantastic result and I’m very pleased to win a British Championship again. It’s a good feeling to know you can still do it.”

Now armed with an international licence, Charlie’s ambition is to race at Daytona next year – where he aims to top 200mph for the first time – and to find a seat in the World Endurance series which is a mixture of 24 and eight-hour races at circuits, including Le Mans.

As always, he will be cheered on by his girlfriend Dusty and his children Rebecca, 22, Harry, 12, and 11-year-old Arthur as well as a small army of friends.

And, as for the secret of the successful return, Charlie can only think of one explanation: “At the final round at Cadwell I went to get more tyres sorted out.
An ex-British Super Bike rider was helping out and he said ‘Was that you riding that Suzuki?’ I said yes. He said ‘You ride that like a young man’!”

Charlie added: “I just enjoy motorcycle racing. I made a lot of friends and you miss the social side of racing easily as much as you miss the racing itself. It’s just a fantastic sport.”