Darlington superbike racer Mark Burr continued his recent good form by scoring his first double points haul of the season with a pair of top fifteen placings at round six of the MCN 2002 British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch last weekend.

The 21-year-old qualified the 750cc Hawk Racing Kawasaki in 16th position enabling him to participate in the all-important Superpole session on Saturday which sets the grid for Sunday's races. However, despite his best efforts, Burr couldn't improve on his fourth row starting position.

In the opening 20 lap race, Burr got a great start and was running just behind the leading bunch in 11th position in the opening laps.

But as the race progressed, a minor problem with the front suspension led to increased tyre wear and as a result, Burr dropped back to 15th place at the flag, claiming the last available point.

The Toshiba-backed team made some alterations to the front forks for the second leg and despite Mark getting an average start, he clawed his way from 14th position on lap one throughout the race as was homing in on team mate and five times Australian champion, Glen Richards whom he just failed to beat by the narrowest of margins to end up 12th.

Burr now lies in joint 17th position as the thirteen round series heads for the half distance point Rockingham near Corby this weekend.

It wasn't such a good day in the Brands sunshine for two of the region's other riders, both of whom failed to see the chequered flag in their respective races.

With Middlesbrough's Paul Veazey having to miss the meeting because of his GCSE exams, it was left to Yarm rider Russ Hodgson to uphold local honour in the 125cc GP event.

The 21-year-old had managed to qualify the Cameron's Castle Eden Honda in 4th position and took full advantage of his front row start to lay second in the early stages of the race. But his down-on-power machine was overhauled as the race progressed as Hodgson hung onto the back of the leading quartet and coming into the final corner, he made a move around the outside.

Sadly, he asked too much of the rear tyre and for the second time this year, crashed out within sight of the finish line denying him some much needed prize money as a result.

* Richmond rider Mick Jackson took his 80cc HS Suzuki to a pair of second places behind veteran Scarborough racer Tony Flinton when the latest round of the Auto 66 Club Championships took place at Carnaby Two near Hull last Sunday.

Also in action was Middlesbrough's Simon Hadfield who posted a pair of sixth places in the Clubman's Cup before taking his 125cc Honda to 5th position in the 125cc GP event.

Richmond brother Mark and Andrew Constantine hope to consolidate their lead in the BTRDA Championship when they head to Sherwood Forest for round six of the championship tomorrow and the Dukeries Rally.

Due to regulations stipulating they had to miss a round, the pair decided not to travel to the previous round in South Wales but are looking to get their challenge back on course when they contest the 45 stage mile event in their 1400cc WA Browne Maxsport Vauxhall Nova.

l On Saturday the Richmond Motor Club put on easy course trial for youth classes and TY80's at Underbanks, near Marrick right amongst the real Scott Trial sections. Young Carl Hollis on his Gas Gas not only won C-class but put up the best overall performance of the trial beating the A-class winner Martin Bainbridge (Gas Gas) by some 16 marks round the rocky four-lap, ten-section course, second overall was Kathryn Wardle on a Sherco who took B-class by a margin of seven marks from William Allison (Beta).

Results. - A-class: 1 Martin Bainbridge (Gas Gas) 24; 2 Mike Eastwood (Beta) 26; 3 Simon Brown (Sherco) 87. B-class: 1 Kathryn Wardle (Sherco) 14; 2 William Allison (Beta) 21; 3 Paul Haywood (Beta) 36. C-class: 1 Carl Hollis (Gas Gas) 8; 2 Robert Metcalfe (Gas Gas) 89; 3 Matthew Padbury (Beta) 93. TY80's: 1 Richard Sadler 9; 2 Rob Tarran 46; 3 Robert Shepperson 50.

l Sunday saw the Guisborough Motor Club put on a centre restricted trial at Mount Ash Farm, Glaisdale Head where an entry of 82 rode a three-lap, 12-section course among the rugged hills. Colin Bailey (Yamaha) took the win for the loss of eight marks with clubmen-A winner, Terry Row (Scorpa) second overall, just six marks behind.

Results. - Expert: 1 Colin Bailey (Yamaha) 8. Intermediates: 1 Colin Chapman (Gas Gas) 26. 1st class award: 1 Ian Hopley (Scorpa) 15. Clubmen A: 1 Terry Row (Scorpa) 14. 1st class awards: 1 Guy Moorhouse (Gas Gas) 17; 2 Rob Smith (Montesa) 20. Clubmen B: 1 Jim Jardine (Gas Gas) 0; 2 Paul Cass (Bultaco) 4MC; 3 Alan Smith (Bultaco) 4; 4 John Bullen (Montesa) 4. Youth A: 1 Paul Hogan (Beta) 92. Youth B: 1 Deryck Jones (Gas Gas) 20. Youth B easy: 1 John Banks (Beta) 7. Youth C: 1 Sam Hayward (Bultaco) 44.

l The Bedlington Motor Club were also in action on Sunday with their third round of their Bell Trucks Sales Trials series at Hopefoot Farm, nr Otterburn. Thanks to permission from the Commanding Officer, Col Paul Rennie, an entry of 88 took part riding a four-lap, ten-section course on the army training land. John Crinson (Beta) took the win by a margin of ten marks from Eddie Aitken on a Sherco and Mike Lee (Sherco) the A-class youth winner.

Results. - Experts: 1 John Crinson (Beta) 21; 2 Eddie Aitken (Sherco) 31; Roger Williams (Yamaha) 59. Intermediates: 1 Craig Little (Gas Gas) 61; 2 James Harland (Beta) 64; 3 Glenn Quinn (Montesa) 66. Novices: 1 Carl Shaw (Sherco) 61; 2 Craig Scott (Sherco) 71; 3 Ian Stephen (Montesa) 80. A-class: 1 Mike Lee (Sherco) 31; 2 Kirk Vitty (Beta) 41; 3 James Grieves (Beta) 110. Clubmen: 1 Tony Hodgson (Sherco) 45; 2 Mark Thorne (Montesa) 52; 3 Ray Crinson (Beta) 52. B-class: 1 Scott Fenton (Sherco) 46; 2 James Read 67; 3 Lewis Peart 84. Easy riders: 1 John Palmer (Montesa) 19; 2 Bruce Metcalfe (Gas Gas) 28; 3 Brenton Towers (Gas Gas) 30. Twin-shock: 1 Stuart Armstrong (Honda) 56. Pre-65: 1 Steve Maxwell (BSA) 31.

l The Darlington club's Wednesday evening easy trial on June 12 in Dalton Woods, Croft near Darlington, attracted a 52-strong entry who all rode as one class. Jamie Cameron and his Scorpa took the win losing just three marks round the four laps of ten sections which had been made harder with the heavy rain of the previous days. In second place was Kathryn Wardle on her Bultaco who dropped two fives, both on the very slippery section and these were the only marks she lost to finish just one mark clear of Jason Brown on his Twin shock Fantic. Veteran William Holdsworth (Gas Gas) finished in sixth place on a total of 15, ten marks of which came from riding on the wrong side of the flags twice at a particular section. The club's next trial at this venue is on July 10, contact Graham Sanderson on 01740 6582391.

Results. - 1 Jamie Cameron (Scorpa) 3; 2 Kathryn Wardle (Bultaco) 10; 3 Jason Brown (Fantic) 11; 4 Ian Lonsdale (Beta) 13; 5 Kel Wales (Montesa) 15; 6 William Holdsworth (Gas Gas) 15. TY80's: 1 Daniel Percival (Gas Gas) 81; 2 Sam Whittaker (TY80) 112; 3 Rob Tarran (Beta) 117.

ends