TOM Carne admits he has a point to prove as he heads out to Spain for winter testing ahead of the new British Superstock 600 Championship.

The East Lancashire star was forced to pull out of the sport last season after funding dried up but he is back for the 2016 campaign and determined to make an impression.

The 22-year-old, who admitted he had considered quitting the sport during a tough 2015, will be riding a Yamaha R6 next year and next week gives him his first opportunity to put the bike through its paces.

"It is only three days that we are going for but it is three days on the bike where we can learn a lot," said the Haslingden racer.

"We have got the bike all sorted now and I am feeling confident.

"We are all set up for next season now, we have a bit of funding in place and although we are still looking for more things are looking good at the moment.

"I am going back into the Superstock Championship which is a tough class and I guess I have something of a point to prove after last season.

"I am going in to win it, that is the aim."

And Carne is relishing the chance to spend some time in southern Spain having being forced to drop out of the Championship last season due to a lack of sponsors.

"It was tough last year and it was tough on the sponsors as well," he added.

"I did think about quitting.

"It was tough having to make savings and scrimp and save in your life to try and carry on. I would be sat at home watching the racing on the television knowing I couldn't be out there.

"But there was always this little voice inside my head and thankfully it has paid off."

Carne will make the trip to Almeria with his dad Alan and the East Lancashire star is operating on a 'do-it-yourself' basis next year.

"My dad is coming out to Spain with us and I couldn't have done anything without him.

"I am just doing it myself next year with help from my dad and a few friends and mechanics. It will be hard but the cost of running a team is so high that this is the best way to do it."

And Carne who won the ThundersportGB championship 2010 and the Triumph Young Guns in 2013, still harbours lofty ambitions.

"Ultimately I want to try and get into British Superbikes," he added.

"That is my aim and I don't think I will ever stop trying to do that. Hopefully one day I can make it."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Carne, who begins his 2016 Championship in late March, can visit his website at www.tomcarneracing.co.uk for more information.