Bradford motorcyclist Dijon Compton has set up the Globe Racing team to compete in next year's European Superstock Championship - a sister competition to the World Superbikes.

The 21-year-old from Oakenshaw said: "After three years of racing for other teams I decided it was time to do things my way.

"Last summer I decided to set up a team that would be able to mount a serious challenge at European level. And after hours of planning looking at different options I came to the conclusion that the European Superstock Championship would be the most feasible.

"In 1998 the World Superbikes' governing body Flamini decided it was time to introduce young blood capable of dazzling crowds around the world, and the Superstocks were born.

"Hopefully it will be a proving ground for the future World Superbike and World Supersport stars. Its aim is to put up-and-coming talent in the spotlight for team owners, factory bosses, global TV and the world's media.

"My ambition is to win the World Superbike Championship, and this is an important step along the way.

"The Superstock series is open to 16- to 24-year-olds riding production-based machinery at all nine European rounds of the World Superbike Championships.

"The formula was so successful this year that an extra date has been added for 2000. Flamini have also decided they will invite selected teams with a professional image to keep the paddock as flamboyant as possible."

Round one is at the Spanish Grand Prix in Valencia on March 12, with the English round next at Donington Park on May 14. The European Grand Prix is at Brands Hatch on August 6. In addition there is also a British Superstock Championship, the first of four rounds being at Donington on April 9.

Compton added: "At Globe we have assembled a very professional team.

"My personal coach is Alan Carter - up until the 1990s the youngest rider to win a Grand Prix.

"Chief technician is Wayne Stapleton, who has worked with both world and Australian Superbike teams.

"Technician is Steve Underwood, who has worked with me since my days at Cagiva. And we also have a press officer, Claire Henshall, and our PR company is Image Wizard."

Compton first made his mark as a junior grass track racer, winning Lancashire Yorkshire and British titles between 1990 and 1996.

The following year he won the Best Newcomer Award at the British and European Superteen Championship, riding for the factory-backed Cagiva team run by Mick Walker.

A hand operation meant Dijon had a restricted programme in 1998, but he did compete in the last two rounds of the 125 National Championship.

And a late-season charge at the Croft Champion of Champions event, where he finished fifth beating several ex-Grand Prix stars, earned Dijon a contract to ride in the partially-backed Honda Britain squad.

Much of the 1999 season was spent testing for various teams at five European tracks - his favourite track is cartagena in Spain - but he did claim several top-20 finishes in the British Championships and a provisional pole position at Donington Park.

It was there that Compton suffered a major setback. "With two minutes of the session left my engine seized going into Crayner Curves - a problem we had earlier in the season - throwing me over the top of the machine," he said.

"I landed heavily, breaking my left wrist which obviously sidelined me.

"Then, to make matters worse, the team's main sponsor pulled out, leaving me without a ride."

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