Wilkinson plans to improve on his strong 2012 debut in the Superstock 600 Class where he consistently scored points throughout the season. 

Again riding for the successful Colchester-based Seton Tuning Yamaha Team on board a Yamaha R6, Wilkinson aims to finish consistently inside the top five during the year. 

He impressed in 2012, having never competed on the technical UK tracks or on board the Yamaha R6 machine. 

“2012 was tough for me, I had a lot to adapt to,” Wilkinson said. “But by the end of the season the team and I really started to gel really well and I got a good handle on the R6” Wilkinson said.

“We have a strong test program in place over the next two months, starting at Cartegena in Spain. The Seton Tuning Yamaha team has made some big steps forward with the bike during the off season and I am really looking forward to giving 100 per cent.

“I have trained really well in the pre-season and am in a really good position to have a strong 2013,” he added. 

The final piece in the puzzle for the talented 23-year-old rider is in securing the funding to support living in the UK for eight months.

“it’s really tough to find sponsors at the moment with the way the economy is. We are trying really hard to secure funding and the support i have received from the Bendigo community so far has been great, but we are still a little way  behind.”

Wilkinson has set up a 100Club on his website www.mwracing56.com where people can make donations securely online via PayPal. You can join the 100Club to help Mark’s 2013 Championship goals.

Local businesses Plaza Auto Sales, Graeme Svanosio Automotive, ROMPdesign, PJT Security, Johnson Painting Group and Cumagutsa have continued their support for Wilkinson’s 2013 campaign.