An exciting band of newcomers are flying the flag for Sussex motorbike racing.

Darren Jones, from Horsham, has won the BEMSEE club's Rookie 600 southern championship and appears to be on course to win the nationwide crown as well.

Portslade pair Andrew Ballard and John Evans, meanwhile, are challenging for honours in the Rookie 400 nationwide series with Ballard claiming a brace of victories at Brands Hatch last season.

Add to that, the continued improvement of Peacehaven's Kevin Stone in the Rookie 400 class plus the battle for honours between Alex Symon (Haywards Heath) and Andy Denyer (Uckfield) in the Powerbike class and the picture for Sussex is bright.

There is also Sam Corke, from Uckfield, winning the MRO Powerbike series and a few more newcomers coming through too.

The way Jones has burst on to the scene has been remarkable. The 23-year-old civil engineer had never stepped on to a race track before February but he has dominated affairs at Rookie 600 level.

Having already won the southern championship, he is 100 points clear in the nationwide series with four rounds to go.

Jones said: "This is my first year. I started in February and had never been on a track before that.

"I did motocross as a schoolboy but I never really got anywhere with that.

"I had always loved riding bikes and I fancied having a go.

"I thought I would do a few track days. I sold my road bike and bought a track bike. A friend of mine, Daniel Coutts, helped me to get going."

Coutts is a hot prospect himself but neither of them could have predicted how well Jones would do.

Jones said: "At first it was just for fun but now it has turned far more serious.

"I fancy doing the Supersport next year and maybe some MRO rounds just for the experience.

"I have had lots of help from family and friends but I am currently looking for sponsorship for next year."

Evans and Ballard got the racing bug when they went to a couple of meetings last year.

Evans, 28, said: "I was helping a friend of mine last year who did a couple of races and I got hooked.

"I am currently fourth in the championship and chasing third place.

"My dad has had lots of cars and bikes and I have been brought up with them.

"I have had a couple of second places and half a dozen third places so far."

Evans, a development engineer, took a third in the first race at Brands Hatch last Sunday and was running fourth in race two when he came off.

Ballard and Evans are former housemates and work colleagues. They both get support from P&H Motorcycles and also help each other.

Evans said: "We help each other with set-up and we speak to each other about ideas. I would like to continue with the 400s next year and maybe go up to the MRO series the following season."

Ballard has had the edge on his friend this year but is not sure whether he will continue beyond this season.

He claimed a double success in the nationwide series at Brands last Sunday, which left him 15 points away from the championship leader in second place.

Ballard, 30, a design engineer, said: "I have always been interested in motorsport and did a karting series three years ago. I enjoyed that and knew I wanted to get into it somewhere.

"I considered cars but they take up too much room and are too expensive. We had a friend who had connections, so we went along and really got interested.

"My ambition was to finish in the top three and I have achieved that. A lot of it is about having the right gear. I knew I needed to have a good bike to do the season."

As for the future, Ballard said: "I had savings for this year. It is fulfilling an ambition but I have other interests as well and without getting sponsorship it is difficult to justify me carrying on.

"I am thinking about whether I continue next year. I guess I would like to if I can afford it."