UP-and-coming motorcycling racer Ross Connolly has signed up to launch a new challenge for the British Superstock Series being made by Kendal motorcyle enthusiast and businessman Tony George.

Competing under the name of TG Racing, 23-year-old Ross, from near Blackpool, comes to the team on the strong recommendation of Kendal's British Superbike Cup winner James Ellison and his father Bruce, who has been Tony's friend since they used to go Motocross riding together.

Tony, a former factory engineer at K Shoes who has a "hands-on" approach and helps maintain the bikes during the racing season, was thrilled about securing the services of his new rider and said: "Ross is a first-class racer who at such a young age has gained the respect of many in the sport and I am firmly convinced that by the end of 2005 he will be moving on to bigger things.

"He used to race as a junior with James (Ellison) and James Toseland, the World Superbike star, before having a couple of years out, but as soon as he came back you could see he had a touch of class about him on the bike."

Ross works in his father's business making decompression chambers and is in the midst of a three-and-a-half month driving course at Fort William in Scotland.

For his challenge for the forthcoming 13-meeting Superstock Championship, he will be riding the latest Kawasaki ZX 10 RR, which will be prepared for the season by highly-respected Garstang tuner Frank Wrathall, who is also engaged by many works-based teams such as Monstermob, ETI and Hawk Kawasaki.

Ross takes over from Kendal rider Ian Waine, who broke a collarbone at last year's first meeting at Silverstone and then struggled to find form afterwards before pulling out of the series to be replaced by a Wigan-based rider for a short spell.

Tony, whose other big sporting interest is cricket - he is vice- chairman of Kendal Cricket Club - added: "Ross is a definite big-plus for us. If there was anybody locally able to ride to such a high standard then he would have been on the bike.

"There are a couple coming through the ranks and they may be ready in 18 months or so."

Tony's team consists of his eldest son Andrew, who helps with the day-to-day jobs, Chris Moffatt, Dave Newby and Ross's girlfriend Leanne.

The British Superstock series is run in conjunction with the British Superbike Series and enjoys terrestrial TV coverage with motorsport viewing audiences second only to F1 car racing.

The meetings start at Brands Hatch on March 26/27/28 and close at Donington Park at the end of September. Anyone interested in help Tony's team at trackside or financially can contact him at : e-mail: a.george4@btinternet.com telephone: 07739 906 390