By Carly Rathmell
January 25 2006

23-year-old Ben Castleton, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is desperately seeking funding and product support for this year’s 2006 road racing season.

Castleton is hoping to compete in the British Supersport Cup and, after a fraught two years, is hoping that his luck will turn for the better, and to build on the potential he has previously shown.

Castleton started his racing career in 2002, and gained a number of successful results - including 57 podiums, 14 of them race wins - at Club Level during 2002 and 2003. Riding on board a Honda CBR600, Castleton was carving his way through the road-racing scene setting lap records and accumulating race wins at various circuits around the country.

In 2004 and 2005 he rode the ever competitive Virgin Mobile R6 Cup, a school of excellence for young racers to develop into future champions. He gained a handful of good results at the start of 2004, until a huge accident at Croft circuit saw the youngster suffer seven broken bones in his right wrist. Playing catch up throughout 2005, Castleton struggled with the injury. He also suffered a huge financial set-back in September when, at a track day at Oulton Park, his vehicle caught fire - destroying all the racing tools he had collected from the start of his racing career, his brand new R6 race bike, and also the vehicle that took him to all the races.

Having to borrow a pick up truck from a family friend for the rest of the season was the only way Ben managed to carry on. In December 2005 he saw surgeon and Superbike doctor Toby Branfoot, who operated on his injury and realigned the damaged wrist in order to allow him more strength, and to be fully fit for the ’06 season.

With the racing season just around the corner, and things kicking off at the famous circuit Brands Hatch, Kent, on 26th March, it is necessary for Ben to find the necessary backing and funding to allow him to complete the full season in the championship. With thirteen rounds of the championship, and ten counting towards their overall result, it is necessary for him to find support that will help him fund his season, and hopefully see him gain a top three result in the overall Supersport Cup championship standings.

On average 25,000 spectators attend each British Superbike Championship event, a series which has been given the title of the toughest domestic championship in the world. The British Supersport Cup will be shown ‘as live’ in 2006 on Sky Sports, having just signed another deal with Dorna UK, the promoters of the Bennetts British Superbike series for the fourth consecutive year running.

As a rapidly growing sport, sponsors are eagerly wanting to be apart of this exciting and dramatic sport. Such companies as Rizla, Virgin Mobile, Airwaves, Red Bull, HM Plant, MonsterMob and Eddie Stobart have all decided that thrills of two wheeled action is the place to be to promote their product to the right people. Now known as a family sport, where fans can get up close and personal with the riders and teams, it is becoming an increasingly sought after environment to be a part of.

If you would like any more information, including TV viewing figures and race attendance figures, or you require any photos, please do not hesitate to contact me on carlyrathmell 'at' yahoo.co.uk or 07790-247836.

The race season is as follows:
18–19 March, BSB official test, Snetterton
24–26 March, Round 1, Brands Hatch, Kent
07–09 April, Round 2, Donington Park, Derbyshire
14–17 April, Round 3, Thruxton, Hampshire
21 April, BSB official test, Oulton Park
29 Apr–01 May, Round 4, Oulton Park, Cheshire
19–21 May, Round 5, Mondello Park, Ireland
02–04 June, Round 6, Mallory Park, Leicestershire
16–18 June, Round 7, Snetterton, Norfolk
05–06 July, BSB official test, Croft
14–16 July, Round 8, Knockhill, Scotland
21–23 July, Round 9, Oulton Park, Cheshire
11–13 August, Round 10, Croft, North Yorkshire
17 August, BSB official test, Cadwell Park
26–28 August, Round 11, Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire
31 August, BSB official test, Silverstone
15–17 September, Round 12, Silverstone, Northamptonshire
29 Sept–01 Oct, Round 13, Brands Hatch, Kent