RADCLIFFE motorcycle ace Rob Barber on Thursday flies out to Valencia to compete in the first round of the Suzuki GSX-R European Cup.

The 24-year-old data engineer from Ripon Close will get the chance of his first ride on the GSXR 750 in practice on Friday, before giving it his all in the qualifying heat on Saturday, with the race itself on Sunday.

The prestigious competition is being held over five rounds following the World Superbike meetings at Valencia; Misono, San Marino; Lausitzring, Germany; Magny Cours, France and Britains Silverstone track.

This weekend's heat coincides with Round Three of the Superbikes.

All vehicles for the race are being prepared by Alstare Suzuki racing team, who are currently leading the World Superbike Championship with Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama.

Rob competed his last race with British Superbikes before Valencia two weeks ago at the Thruxton circuit.

"It was a nervous weekend with Valencia only two weeks away," said Rob.

"I went to Thruxton for the first ever time last year and only completed eight laps in free practice before having a massive crash at 120mph, smashing my bike to pieces.

"So this time I was nervous and took my time to learn the circuit."

In first qualifying Rob was 31st, then in second, having learnt more about the circuit, he went 1.3 seconds quicker moving him up to 27th on the grid.

"I got a reasonable start, fighting my way to 24th on the first lap," he added.

"I just settled in and got into a nice rhythm and started to put some good lap times in, eventually finishing 17th in the race.

"I'm really please with that result as it was my first ever race at that circuit.

"My fastest lap was only two seconds off the record, and the weekend couldn't have finished any better ahead of Valencia."