The Dalziel High School pupil will rub shoulders with stars such as Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, the seven-time world champion.

And he's praying for rain to help him make an impact at the Northamptonshire track and impress the sport's talent-spotters.

Brown (17) was handed a wildcard entry for the event. Usually he competes in the British 125 GP series and is currently fourth overall this season, having finished second in his last two races.

The Silverstone race on June 20 will be a big step up. Brown's bike cost £50,000 to put together while some of his rivals will be on machines that cost around £1 million to assemble.

But the confident youngster won't be overawed as he lines up for a race that will be screened on BBC.

Forty riders will tackle roughly 20 laps of the four-mile circuit, considerably more than Brown is used to.

He said: "This is the level I want to be competing at regularly. Some boys I used to race against on the Red Bull Rookies circuit will be there and I think I can beat them.

"I hope it's wet because that would help to level things out. I'm aiming for top 20, but if it's wet I believe I can get in the top 15."

Full story in June 3 edition of Times & Speaker