MOTOR SPORT: SPEEDSTER Karl Grove has proved self-promotion can work in sport by securing enough support to become a professional.

The 25-year-old will fulfil his dream on Saturday when he flies out to California, USA, for a six-week international training camp to begin life as a full-time motocross racer.

Placed in the top 60 at 125cc level in Britain, Grove hopes to make a major impact over eight rounds of the British Championships from late March.

But the Stourport-based rider is just glad to be competing after an operation on a recurring dislocated left shoulder last year.

And Grove, previously an account manager, admitted: "I have not been back on the bike yet as I wanted to give my shoulder as much time as I possibly could.

"The speed is there but it's just having the fitness to do it through the whole race. I am hoping for a top 15 finish in the British competition and just to qualify for European events would be great.

"What it boils down to is time on the bike and that's what going full-time gives me. It's always been my ambition to turn pro."

Grove's efforts have made it possible to ride as a privateer and he thanked both local and national sponsors for their support.

He explained: "I am pretty proud to have 10 major sponsors. It's about self-promotion and letting people know who you are."