PEACEHAVEN bike racer Richard Freshwater is counting the cost of his attempt to reach the top.

Freshwater, 25, reckons it will cost him £7,000 to compete in this year's MRO Championship and the BEMSEE club's Supersport 600 series.

He admits every spare penny after paying his mortgage and house bills goes on racing.

He has had to sell his road motorbike and has also been forced to take a loan from his bank.

It is the price Freshwater is prepared to pay in a quest for glory.

He said: "I have sometimes considering giving up but I am not going to until I find out if I am good enough or not.

"The only thing above me now is British Superbikes, which is where everyone wants to be."

Freshwater is currently running seventh in the MRO Championship, which is tremendous considering he was a rookie last season.

He has made a lot of people sit up as he regularly beats more experienced racers, but Freshwater admits it has not been easy.

He said: "The price of my race entries and tyres this year is £7,000.

"At some of the meetings I am having to pay my entry fee when I get there, which you shouldn't do.

"But as I'm a regular and they know I'm skint, they let me off.

"My sister bought me a set of tyres for my birthday and so did my mum.

"The new series is on television and, because of that, I have been told the bikes have to look good.

"After I cracked my fairing I was told I had got to get it repaired, which cost me £250. It keeps adding up."

Freshwater has some sponsorship from Stuart Mouland Motor Caravans but he says he needs more help.

It costs him £800 each weekend he races. The quicker he gets, the quicker tyres wear out. At £500 a pair, the money soon disappears.

"As well as race entry and tyres, there are other things," he said. "I need to do practise days at tracks if I want to do better but they cost £140 a time."

Freshwater has sent out over 100 letters begging for sponsorship but all to no avail.

Despite that he is determined to carry on to see if he can fulfil the promise he has been showing.

He added: "I shouldn't even be doing as well as I am. I am running seventh in the MRO Championship out of 80 entries.

"As a rookie last year that should be out of my league but I am staying on my bike and keeping up with them."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.