SCHOOLBOY Daniel Crosby is set to become one of the youngest riders to contest the British Superbike Championship.

For the 14-year-old Witton Park High School pupil has signed a deal to ride a Honda 125cc on selected rounds of the series.

And the contract with Stoke-based MacCready Racing will also see the Blackburn-based youngster contest the full MRO -- Motorcycle Racing Organisation -- National Championship.

"It's a fantastic deal for Daniel, and represents the next stepping stone in his ambition to get to MotoGP," said his dad Andy.

"The team had been watching Daniel racing last season and were obviously impressed by what they saw.

"The timing was just right because he won both the ACU North West and Preston and district Junior Road Racing Championships and only missed out on the British title by one point. Coincidentally, Howie Mainwaring, who rode for the team last year, decided to move up from 125cc to a Yamaha R1 in British Superbikes, and suddenly there was a seat available.

"We got a phone call out of the blue on Boxing Day, and met up with the team's owner, Barry MacCready, on New Year's Day. Daniel was invited to a test session and everything fell into place."

The contract will see MacCready Racing supplying Daniel and his father a 2001-specification Honda RS125, a service van and paying half the entry fee to every race he enters.

The bike is currently being prepared by respected tuner Frank Wrathall in Gastang in readiness for Daniel's first shakedown run at the Three Sisters circuit near Wigan later this month.

The championship kicks off at Snetterton in Norfolk on March 23, followed by 14 rounds at circuits around the country, including Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Mallory Park.

"He's going to be in for a busy year, as each MRO round is a double-header with races on Saturday on Sunday," explained Andy.

"But this is the championship where riders such as Neil Hodgson and James Toseland cut their teeth and there's no reason why Daniel can't do the same. If everything goes to plan, we are looking to do a full season of British Superbikes in 2004 with the aim of securing a wild card into MotoGP."

Daniel Crosby is sponsored by Thorncraft Motorcycles of Blackburn, SpiDesign UK, Princess Street Autobodies, Accrington.