One of Bermuda's most talented young sportsmen has been repeatedly refused funding by the Government.

Toriano Wilson, who competes in the United States in the Red Bull AMA US Rookie Cup, is denied any assistance because he is not considered to be an elite athlete by the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation.

This is despite his current standing as one of the best young motorcyclists in the world.

So far the 14-year-old has had to survive on money from Red Bull, and donations from family, friends and members of the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club (BMRC).

His father, Dennis Wilson, has even sold his own car and bike so his son can compete in America.

"We have been asking the Government for sponsorship funds for a while now without success," said Paul DeCouto a spokesman for BMRC. "We are breeding champions here, the Government has to take us seriously."

The money that Red Bull gives each rider on the circuit is enough to pay for bikes, leathers, and general maintanence, but it is not enough for the continual travelling that Wilson has to do between Bermuda and the US.

And the money that has already been raised is running out, with the continued need for finance taking its toll on the pockets of his supporters on the Island.

It is hoped that a fund-raising event at the Southside race track on Sunday will go someway to making up the shortfall, and if that doesn't work, then corporate sponsorship will be the next step.

"We will try to raise the funds on our own before we go to an outsource for assistance," said DeCouto. "We will be holding a fund-raiser to help Toriano with travel and accomodation when he goes to the US, and any other money we raise will go to helping other members of the BMRC.

"We will look for sponsorship locally for now," DeCouto continued. "Once he gets further along in his racing we can go outwards and look for him to go to the Moto Grand Prix (GP) circuit.

"This is the focus of where you want to be as a racer. It is like the Formula 1 of the road racing."

Wilson's success on the circuit so far this season hints at a promising future, and while he is enjoying his current good form, he is also accutely aware that without money he cannot survive in the sport.

"We have been looking for sponsors for some time now," he said. "We are looking at CableVision at the moment to get on board. Hopefully this can be sorted out.

"The season is year round with the best young riders from around the world being put through the paces of the sport week in and week out.

"If they think I am good enough they will sign me onto a five-year deal."

There are many within the motorcycling community who believe that Wilson is suffering because his sport is not as mainstream as football and cricket.

And while that may be the case, DeCouto believes the sport has to change the way it presents itself if they are to ever get the help they need to produce champions of the future.

"We are breeding champions here," he said.

"Toriano, as well as a few others, are a perfect example of that."

"Red Bull is pumping roughly $250, 000 in funding for each rider.

"The money is being used to get leathers, bikes, which are in the region of $80,000, and all other necessities that are required for a rider.

"Money is needed for airfare as this comes out of his and other's pockets. Red Bull pay for his bike and things of that nature, but when it comes to him travelling back and forth from the Island, he has to pay his own airfare.

"The Government has to take us seriously and we have to take ourselves more seriously as well. We have to run our association like a business, and we can no longer look at ourselves as a small club.

"We are in a growing sport and turning into a big club."

Sunday's event has been called 'Dash for Cash', and will be a continuation of last week's Marvin 'Skinny' Robinson Memorial race day.

Formula and 600 class bikes will compete for honours.

"We want people to come out and encourage our young riders," said DeCouto. "Because when they get more mature in the sport, they will become household names."

n Dash for Cash begins at 2pm, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.