World Supersport: Craig Jones team faces cash crunch

Craig Jones’ Ekerold Honda team is facing a dilemma over staying in World Supersport next year after saying most UK sponsors are stuck in the past when it comes to funding world championship race teams.

Team owner Gary Ekerold has a superb track record of unearthing great new UK talent, including Craig Jones, Leon Camier, and Cal Crutchlow, but says that in stark contrast to backing teams racing at home, getting support for a world title assault is immeasurably harder.

He says his team could raise money to race in the UK next year with ease – but not abroad. The team at present is one of the least-backed squads in the World Supersport series – making Craig Jones impressive rides all the more impressive.

Gary Ekerold said: “I keep coming up against the same thing when I’m speaking to sponsors – they are interested but they are all saying to me wouldn’t I prefer to race in England.

“With TV, websites and general media coverage there just aren’t the barriers there used to be in terms of getting publicity whether we’re racing in the UK or in Europe.

“If we were able to be here and become a force like a team such as Ten Kate Honda it would generate ten times more publicity than being a top British Supersport team – but UK sponsors can’t see that.”