YOUNG Motocross rider Jack Kear of Parkend is 'mortified' after his Suzuki RM85 racing machine was stolen on Monday night.

The thieves broke into the shed at his home and stole the bike along with his father Martin's racing CR125.

The thieves showed great audacity, said Jack's mother Michaela, cutting through a half-inch thick steel door catch, breaking into a van to roll it out of the way, then moving a caravan aside. Finally they cut through steel chains which fixed the bikes to the floor with padlocks.

"We aren't really thinking about Martin's bike – it's Jack's bike that really matters because it's his life," said Mrs Kear.

Jack, now 12, featured in the Review in October 2009 after doing well in a junior round of the famous Weston Beach Race – the year in which there was a spectacular crash involving dozens of bikes in the adults race.

Since then the Whitecross student has taken up Motocross riding in a big way, coming third at championships in Barmouth last year.

Mrs Kear says the police have called in a specialist team to investigate the theft of the machines and two spare wheels, worth around £4,000 altogether.

Both bikes have distinctive racing modifications and Jack's machine carries his race number, 52.

"The thieves obviously knew what they were after. It's chilling to think they could have followed us back from a race meeting to find where we lived," said Mrs Kear.