FRESH from their jaunt across the Atlantic to contest the Rally Barbados last month, Leeming businessman Kevin Procter and co-driver Mick Gilby, from Northallerton, were once again on top form when they contested round six of the BTRDA Rally Championship last weekend.

Driving the Motoscope Impreza, Procter stormed to an impressive runner-up spot in the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally, based in his favoured haunt of Sherwood Forest.

The result put him back in contention after missing the previous round in Wales due to his Caribbean commitments and rolling out of the Somerset Stages event prior to that.

It didn't look at all promising for the pair after problems in the opening two stages dropped them down to 30th overall, but some inspired driving soon had them inside the top 20 and they were up to eighth place overall by SS4.

Procter continued to charge and was up to an impressive fourth overall by SS6, just a minute behind the leader. He moved into second with just a couple of stages remaining, but the Yorkshire duo were unable to do anything about the rally winner and series leader, Graham Middleton (Hyundai Accent).

With drivers allowed to drop three scores from events they contest and to non-start in another one of the ten events which comprise the series, Procter, who currently lies fourth in the championship, is still well placed going into next month's Quinton Horiba Rally based in mid-Wales.

l Hobbs Racing rider Dennis Hobbs celebrated his 22nd birthday in style by closing the gap on THINK! British Superbike Cup leader James Ellison at a damp and miserable Brands Hatch last Sunday.

Aboard his Scott Leathers-sponsored 1000cc Suzuki, the Guisborough rider got back among the silverware with a second place in the day's first race.

He followed that with a fourth place in leg two around the full GP track to move to within 28 points of Cumbrian Ellison at the halfway stage in the series.

Saturday's glorious qualifying weather had seen Hobbs secure a fifth row grid position, but rain on race day meant it was going to be a battle. Indeed, Hobbs nearly crashed as his 160bhp machine slewed sideways at the start of the opening 20-lapper.

Once he had dispensed with some slower riders, Hobbs clawed his way up to second in class at the flag, with his cause being aided by Ellison only finishing fifth.

A similar pattern followed in race two as he became one of the fastest riders on the track in the latter stages, but had to settle for fourth place at the chequered flag as conditions deteriorated.

On his first ride back since breaking his foot in a motocross training accident a month ago, Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup rider Russ Hodgson defied the pain to claim a battling 11th place in difficult conditions.

Hodgson had to miss the previous round at Thruxton due to the injury, but managed to get fit enough to ride over the demanding Brands full GP circuit, although it meant cutting the plaster cast off a month sooner than the medics had originally recommended.

However, the downside to gaining their approval was that if he damaged the bones any further an operation to wire and pin the foot would be required, which could rule him out for a lengthy period of time.

Courageously, the Hutton Rudby rider decided to race on. But, having qualified on row three, he got a diabolical start to hinder his chances even further. A spirited fightback saw him claw his way into the points for the Alan Haywood Racing Team.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough's Paul Veazey claimed 23rd at the end of the British Supersport race after a spirited ride aboard the JR Motosport Yamaha.

With conditions rapidly deteriorating, the team mechanics were about to start to change wheels when they noticed a problem with the team's other rider, Jamie Robinson, which needed their attention.

Spotting that Veazey needed a hand, superbike rider Dennis Hobbs leapt into action to help the youngster fit the wet weather tyres in the nick of time.

* Croft circuit will play host to two world champions when round two of the North East Club Motor Cycle Racing Club's increasingly popular championships take place at the North Yorkshire track this weekend.

In the solo ranks, Kendal's James Ellison, the reigning Endurance world champion, will take to the grid for the Ken Redfern Trophy aboard the Yamaha R1 superbike on which he currently leads the THINK! British Superbike Cup.

In the sidecar field, nine-times world champion Steve Webster will make the short trip up from his Easingwold home to defend his lead in the Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship.

Challenging Ellison for honours in the Ken Redfern feature race will be local hero Dennis Hobbs aboard his 1000cc HR Suzuki.

The Guisborough rider, who has already lifted the silverware three times in succession, is locked in a titanic battle with series leader Ellison for the British Championship and the pair are bound to be battling for supremacy at Croft in readiness for the BSB meeting in a couple of month's time.

Meanwhile, Webster and Northants passenger Paul Woodhead comprehensively lead the EASC after a resounding double victory in front of a bumper crowd at Silverstone earlier in the month.

The Castrol Suzuki pairing will be looking to stamp their authority once again, but a huge field which includes local hero Greg Lambert from Catterick will not make their task easy over the two races.

With capacity grids in virtually all the races, there will be plenty of action throughout the weekend.

An 11-race programme starts at 9.30 tomorrow, while the first of 12 races on Sunday gets under way at 12.10.

Adult admission costs £6 tomorrow and £12 on Sunday with accompanied children under 15 admitted free.

l Current World Superbike star James Toseland is the latest big name to sign up for the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club Night with the Stars at Club Amadeus in Northallerton on Tuesday, July 20.

The young Yorkshireman will be starring alongside American Moto GP star and former WSB champion Colin Edwards as well as TV commentator Toby Moody at the charity chat show, which will feature the usual raffle, trade stands, late bar and auctions.

British Superbike champion Shane Byrne is also hoping to make an appearance at the show prior to the British GP at Donington.

Admission costs £10 for adults with accompanied children free and the show will start at 8pm.

Taking centre stage at Northallerton Town FC on Tuesday will be top Superbike Cup riders Dennis Hobbs and James Ellison.

The cost for this chat show is just £2 and it gets under way at 8.30.

Information on both events from Sue Symons on 01904 339647.