Tommy Hill will be competing on the biggest stage in Britain next year.

The 18-year-old has won himself a place on the Virgin works team to compete in the British Superbikes Championship in 2004.

Hill secured the prize after establishing an unassailable lead in the penultimate round of the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup at Brands Hatch last weekend.

Series leader Hill, 17, claimed his second win of the season and now none of his rivals can catch him at the final round of this one-make series at Donington Park next weekend.

Hill, from Lingfield, near East Grinstead, said: "After the race we did not know my lead was unbeatable going into the final round.

"It was only when we sat down on Sunday night to work out how many points I needed that it dawned on us.

"But we didn't get carried away because we thought it was a mistake. However, on Monday I had a call from Rob Mark, owner of the Virgin Superbikes team, and he said to me, 'Hello Tommy, this is your new boss'.

"The prize, in terms of value, is the biggest ever won in motorcycle racing. To join the Virgin works team would cost £100,000 but I have won it for nothing."

At Brands Hatch, Hill put his recent worries of being penalised seven points at Cadwell Park firmly behind him as he stormed to victory and claimed the chequered flag with an impressive 4.5 second lead over Cal Crutchlow.

Hill said: "It was fantastic to get such a good lead. I really surprised myself when I clocked my pit board.

"I nearly lost the front at one point when the gravel went across the track. I was really annoyed about that. I can just go to Donington now with no pressure and see what I can do."