Ollie Merrilees has had to withdraw from the British Supersport Championship this season due to a lack of financial backing.

Instead the Crawley youngster is competing in the MRO Championship but he is hoping to return to the top level of British racing next season.

Merrilees has competed in the British Supersport Championship, which is part of the British Superbikes package, for the Dot.Com racing team for the past two seasons and has made good progress.

Team manager Paul Merrilees, Ollie's dad, said: "It's a great shame that no local companies took up the opportunity to become involved.

"I have remortgaged my property twice now because I believe Oliver has what it takes to go a long way in motorcycle racing but unfortunately I am not in a position to do it for a third time.

"The decision to go into the MRO series was taken to keep Ollie out on the track as taking a year out completely would make it very difficult to return to British level in 2004."

Merrilees took part in the first round of the MRO Championship on his R6 Yamaha at Snetterton last weekend but discovered tough competition.

From an initial entry of 97 riders in the Supersport 600 class, he squeezed on to the back row of the grid by qualifying 40th and went on to finish 26th.

He said: "I was expecting to at least be in the top ten but hopefully with more time on the bike I can get up there fairly soon."