HASLINGDEN rider Tom Carne has thanked the fund-raisers who helped him to compete in the latest round of the National Superstock 600 Championship - and is now trying to find the cash to make the next race on August 2.

Carne feared that the collapse of a sponsorship deal would bring his involvement in the championship to an end after the fifth round at Knockhill, but a crowd-funding initiative raised £2,000 to help him make the grid at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

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The 22-year-old was able to celebrate his continued involvement in the series by finishing in an impressive 11th position but his deal with the Motobreakers racing tram requires him to pay £2,500 to compete in each round.

The next round takes place at Thruxton on the weekend of August 2 and, with a new sponsor still to be found, Carne is appealing for assistance again to help raise the funds required.

After completing the race at Brands Hatch, Carne said: “I want to say a massive thank you to the team Motobreakers for all their time and efforts this weekend, and thank you to the public for making this possible.

“Our campaign begins again today. I appeal to the public and fans to get behind me in a bid to raise £2,500 to get me out at Thruxton in two weeks.”

Carne did not have things his own way in qualifying as he took a tumble after clipping a kerb in the first qualifying session, then was forced out of the second session because of an electrical fault.

That meant he had to start 20th on the grid but he overtook six bikes on the first corner and battled his way up to 11th by the end of the race.

Malachi Mitchell-Thomas and Ben Stafford finished fifth and 14th respectively for Blackburn team Silicone Engineering Racing at the Kent event.

Anyone able to help Carne can donate at www.gofundme.com/y2tvy2t9h or email drewcarne@fsmail.net