Daley challenge to secure sponsorship

STOCKTON road racing ace Daley Mathison is seeking a new team or sponsor to help him run at this year’s international road races after releasing himself from his contract.

But the TT podium finisher insists he will be racing no matter what, and is prepared to run himself if he can’t find another team.

And with just a fortnight until the international road season begins with the Northwest 200 in Northern Ireland, Mathison is working hard to ensure he can compete.

After running himself for several seasons, the young dad had been delighted after signing with the Jackson Racing Academy last November, as it meant he would have more time to spend with wife Natalie and daughter DaisyBlu.

Taking his own BMW machinery along with the Eddie Stobart livery and sponsorship he’s had since 2016, he had hoped being with a team would give him some down time, instead of coming home from work and then spending up to eight hours a night in his workshop working on the bike.

After several pre-season tests with the squad, he struggled to find a set-up he was happy with, and in the end decided it was best if they parted company.

“There isn’t bad blood but it just wasn’t working out in the way we’d all hoped, so I decided it was best to step back and try and work something else,” he said.

“So I’m now trying to sort something out. Ideally I’d love to find another team to run with, but I know time is running out. If I can’t, then I’ll run myself.

“The plan this year was to be with a team so I could spend time with the family instead of doing it all myself. I was literally coming in from work, saying goodnight to Daisy and then going out and working on the bike until after midnight.

“If I have to do that again, then so be it. It’s not what I want but this setback isn’t going to stop me racing this year.”

Mathison’s roads season looks likely to include the Northwest 200, the Isle of Man TT in June, the Ulster GP in August and then Oliver’s Mount events, assuming the rest of the Scarborough track’s season goes ahead.

Ideally I’d love to find another team to run with, but I know time is running out, so I’m prepared to run myself. It would be nice to find some more sponsors though.

“There is no question that I will be racing on the roads this year, but at the moment I’m looking for opportunities to ease the load a bit.”

Anyone interested in potential sponsorship can contact Daley by email: daley@daleymathisonracing. co.uk or via the Daley Mathison Racing Facebook page.