After an explosive debut season, Darren Jones is hungry for more success.

The 23-year-old from Horsham burst on to the racing scene by clinching both the BEMSEE Nationwide and Southern Rookie Championships last year.

His season ended with selection from 3,500 riders to collect the Gordon Cobbold 2002 rider of the year trophy. He also picked up the BMCRC rider of the year award.

Top Superbike rider Shane Byrne, a previous winner of the Gordon Cobbold award, presented the trophy.

The BMCRC trophy is worth £65,000 and previous winners include John Surtees and the late Mike Hailwood, who both went on to become multiple world champions.

Jones has been invited to race for a team competing in this year's MRO Championship.

The team has been set up by Bob Farnham, an established motorcycle racing engineer, and will also include current MRO Powerbike and Superbike champion Sam Corke from Uckfield. The only proviso is Jones has to come up with £15,000 to fund half the ride, something he is currently battling to do.

Jones said: "This chance is a hell of a start for me. Bob will supply the bike, do all the tuning and building of the bike and he will take care of the suspension.

"That is probably worth £15,000 to me, half of the sponsorship. I have just got to come up with the rest, which isn't easy.

"For a professional man like Bob to be interested in me is a great. All I will have to do is turn up and ride. I don't have to worry about the rest which means there is no extra stress on me."

Jones, a civil engineer, will compete in the MRO Supersport 600 class and will continue to contest the BEMSEE classes as well. He also has ambitions of breaking into British championship racing.

He said: "I had a great year last year. Now I want to continue it through.

"I would like the race British championship in the future and I may be riding a couple of wild cards this year. That is what Bob has suggested.

"I have a lot of people supporting me. My girlfriend Julia helped me a lot last year, my grandad Bert has helped me with sponsorship and my mum Monique has been great."

Jones knows his dream could fall apart and he is appealing to Sussex businesses to help him fund his half of the deal.

There are a lot of people in the racing world who feel Jones can go all the way to the top of the sport.

Jones said: "I feel I can do the business. Bob has faith in me and it will be a shame not to be able to take this opportunity."