Teenage BMW Boxer Cup ace Barry Burrell saw his hopes of top ten finish in front of his home crowd dashed when an incorrect tyre choice robbed him of a good result in front of 82,000 fans packed trackside for the British Grand Prix at Donington Park last weekend.

The 17-year-old from Bishop Auckland qualified his Motorrad Team GB machine in 12th place alongside guest rider, the three times British Superbike Champion and former Grand Prix racer Niall Mackenzie.

However, dry qualifying gave way to intermittent rain on race day morning and Burrell decided to go with a wet front tyre and intermediate rear for the 17 lap race whereby he slotted into fourth place in the early stages before dropping back to sixth.

But as the track continued to dry out, his front tyre started to lose grip and he eventually dropped back to 14th place at the chequered flag but was later promoted two places when two riders were excluded after remounting following a collision.

With 14 championship points, Barry is now third in the BMW Young Star championship for the best rider in the series under the age of 21 going into the next round in the Czech Republic next month. The winner will be presented with a Mini Cooper at the end of the series.

Also in action at Donington Park was Middlesbrough teenager Paul Veazey who was competing in the MCN Supersport Cup which also comprised one of the support races.

Despite the lack of qualifying time, the 17 year old knuckled down and set 21st fastest time aboard his JR Motosport Yamaha despite his ongoing problems with arm-pump which was still affecting his performance.

Wet weather again intervened in the race and Veazey did well to guide the 600cc machine home in the treacherous conditions and in doing so, claimed his highest position of the season with a fine 13th place.

Veazey's next outing is his home round of the British Supersport Championship at Croft on August 15th.

l Scotland's Anthony Reid (WSR MG) and Newcastle-born SEAT Sport UK driver Jason Plato were the winners of Croft's three Green Flag British Touring Car Championship rounds last weekend, while Vauxhall team-mates Yvan Muller and local hero James Thompson from Harrogate left the North Yorkshire circuit separated by just three points at the top of the table as the title race heads to Knockhill in Scotland next month.

Reid, who took victory in the first race and set three fastest laps to lead the HarrierZeuros Independents Trophy for privateer competitors, started the first race from pole position and took full advantage to lead all the way for his first victory of 2004.

Frenchman Muller took second but was under pressure throughout from Computeach Racing with Halfords Honda driver Matt Neal (Worcester), who slid off the track on the final lap but still managed to finish third whilst Thompson ended up fourth.

Plato and team mate Robert Huff from Cambridge led the SEAT Sport UK team to a 1-2 finish in the second of the races with Gloucester's Dan Eaves, in the Computeach Racing with Halfords Honda Civic third and just ahead of Thompson.

The SEAT Sport UK pairing repeated their performance in the final race of the day in the same order after Huff led in the early stages but was then passed by Plato. Together, they held off a late attack from WSR MG driver Colin Turkington whose third place ensured the Ulsterman of overall victory in the Independents Trophy.

Fourth and fifth positions were taken by James Thompson and Yvan Muller as they get set to lock horns in Scotland next time out.

l County Durham rally driver Barry Johnson's brave bid to land the Scottish Rally Championship ended despite a battling second place on last weekend's McRae Stages based in Perth, Fife.

Driving the SGP Motorsport Hyundai Accent World Rally Car, the car normally driven by Steve Petch for the first time, the Shildon driver - who won the title in 2002 - knew he had to win and rely on a non-finish for his main rival Raymond Munro but the Scotsman kept it on an even keel and brought his Subaru home in third place to deny Johnson and co driver Stewart Merry any chance of the crown.

It might have been a different story had Johnson not suffered in the early rounds and despite a late charge which saw him clinch victory on the Jim Clark Rally earlier in the month, the Englishman was magnanimous in defeat:

"Raymond caught us all cold at the start of the season and to be honest, he has been the best driver all through the season," Johnson admitted.

"Now I think I'm going to concentrate on the British Championship. We're off to do the Manx on the Isle of Man this weekend and if results work in my favour we could be leading the series by the end of the event."

Cumbrian teenager Matt Wilson won the McRae Stages but the real stars of the show were brothers Colin and Alister McRae and father Jimmy who entertained the thousands of fans with their skills in the stages around Dunfermline.

Johnson's JPM team mate Tristan Pye from Bishop Auckland and co driver, Scotsman Roger Herron retired their Subaru on SS4 whilst well placed.

l Fans flocked to Northallerton in their hundreds last week to meet American MotoGP star Colin Edwards who was making his annual visit to the town to take part in the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club Night with the Stars.

Around 450 people packed into Club Amadeus last Tuesday to see Edwards as well as the leader of the World Superbike Championship going into this weekend's round at Brands Hatch, Yorkshireman James Toseland.

The pair chatted on stage with Eurosport commentator Toby Moody as well as British Superbike stars Scott Smart and Dennis Hobbs as over £3,000 was raised for club funds which goes towards helping local racers in the sport.

It must have been a good omen for the rider nicknamed The Texas Tornado as he went on to finish second to Valentino Rossi in the British GP a few days later