Three riders from a Worthing motorcycle shop are taking on the biggest names in the tough sport of endurance racing - and winning.

Alf's Motorcycle shop in Dominion Road doesn't sound much like a contender in the multi-million pound world of international motorsport.

And it only has £5,000 to play with. Teams like Suzuki Castrol and Phase One Endurance have sponsorship deals worth £1.5 million.

Team member Dave Young said: "It is amazing we can still play with the big boys as we can spend only in hundreds rather than the millions.

"They have specially-tuned engines whereas ours are just the same ones you see in the showroom."

Yet Team Alf's Endurance Racing has shown its riders can beat off some of the best international competition in a series of gruelling 24-hour races.

The riders have been competing in the Masters of Endurance World Endurance Championships.

It consists of three rounds at Le Mans in France, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and the Bol d'Or in France.

After two rounds, Team Alf's is lying seventh in its class and its Kawasaki motorbike is top of its class.

In Le Mans, the team came 18th overall out of a field of 60 and in Spa-Francorchamps the team came 15th overall.

The riders admit even they are surprised at the success they have had so far, especially as it is their first year taking part.

Team timekeeper Boyd Cruttenden, who also works at the motorcycle shop, said: "We are doing much better than we thought we would.

"We are a small team compared with some of the teams we are up against. They have big backers with lots of money.

"All of us have full-time jobs whereas for some of the riders racing is all they do."

The shop's machines sales manager Mick Godfrey is one of the three riders who takes part. The other two are guests.

The final race, the Bol d'Or, is on September 14 and 15.