I started road racing in 1998 after 4 years of schoolboy moto-X. My first full year was in the Gilera National Scooter championship, within a team of four I rode in a team called Kickstart. Unlike motocross it didn't take me long to get to the front of the pack. After my first win and a couple of podiums I managed to finish 8th overall in the main championship and 3rd in the Novice championship.