A LYMM rider is full of optimism for the 2014 season after landing the support of a prestigious manufacturer.

Sean Neary will compete in the Ducati Challenge 2014, which runs alongside the British Superbike Championship, after receiving the backing of Ducati Coventry.

The 27-year-old, who has also recently secured a sponsorship deal with mymate.co.uk, is looking to press on in his bid for Superbike success.

“I’ll be racing in the same class, but it’s a big opportunity, it came about as I started to beat one of their riders last season.

“Since then they have started helping me and this means I can compete with the bigger teams, which is difficult without the technical expertise they can offer.

“They won the title last year and won it three times before, so they hold a lot of pedigree and their help will be invaluable.

“In the short term I’m looking to get into the British Super Bike Stock Class, which is one below Superbikes, that puts you in the driving seat to step up.”

Neary finished the 2013 season injured, but was pleased overall – winning two races at Anglesey and breaking a national lap record at Oulton Park – and hopes to build on his success this campaign.

“It didn’t finish exactly how we wanted, but we had some strong results throughout the season,” he added.

“It was driving me crazy, I wanted to be in the gym four or five times a week or playing football, tennis, squash etc to keep myself fit.

“Last season we were looking after our own bike, but next year we’ll travel to the races and Ducati will bring the bike.

“It’s a professional who gives us the bike ready to go, you can always have problems at the race track but it eliminates the simple things that happen.”

And the operations executive by trade is delighted to have been racing since 2010, after nearly a 15-year absence.

“I did race when I was 11 but we didn’t really have the money to carry it on, so it was three years ago that I started again,” he explained.

“When I was younger I was selected for the first ever British Road Race Academy. The likes of Cal Crutchlow and the current World Superbike champion were also there.

“I’m not saying that’s where I’d be now as they’re both incredible riders, but that’s the aim and we are doing our best to achieve it.”