ACE PIJPER admits he is “super-proud” to emulate his dad and win the league title at Ashfield.
The Allied Vehicles Tigers won the Championship with a stunning aggregate win over Poole last week.
Pijper, 17, followed in his dad’s tyretracks by taking Tiger gold 12 years after Theo won when Glasgow were last top of the pile in 2011.
The Tigers have now won four league titles and only achieved that feat with a Scottish rider in the team.
To complete the glory hat-trick, Ace’s younger brother Stene also won the Northern Junior League at Glasgow this season with the Ashfield Giants.
Ace said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to win the league in my first year in the Championship.
“It’s a big step up and it’s been a tough year but to end up with a gold medal is pretty awesome.
“I think it’s even more cool that I’ve followed by dad by winning the league with Glasgow. The last two titles they’ve won have been with a Pijper in the team. We are obviously a good luck charm!
“I’m super-proud to have achieved that. My dad even made me copy the picture he did of kissing the trophy like he did in 2011. I was only five so I don’t remember it to be honest.
“Stene also won the Northern Junior League last weekend, so we’ve done the treble. It’s been a great season.”
Ace was born and brought up in Edinburgh after his Dutch star dad Theo married local girl Carrie who he met at Armadale Stadium while an Edinburgh rider.
In the previous Glasgow title-winning seasons, Paisley-born James Grieves had been part of all three in 1993, 1994 and 2011.
Ace added: “I think I’ve done OK this year. I don’t think people expected me to score anything. I’ve surprised a few.
“It’s been a really hard end to the season. I’ve had a few bad crashes, which haven’t been my fault, and damaged my elbow and kept me out a bit.
“I also crashed in the meeting at Poole last Wednesday and I’ve hurt my arm again. But it feels good to have won gold. That helps with the pain!”
Images by Taylor Lanning.