AFTER a successful season around the race tracks of Britain last year, the honours were evenly shared by local riders when the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club held its annual dinner dance and awards presentation at the Sundial hotel in Northallerton recently.

No less than three riders came away with a brace of trophies, which were presented by the guest of honour, Marlboro Yamaha Moto GP team manager Geoff Crust.

Mr Crust, from Redcar, had just returned from a hectic winter testing around the world with riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa.

Darlington rider Richard Harrison lifted the NYRRSC scroll for best club rider, as well as the Paul Warwick shield for best rider overall, after some fine performances aboard his 500cc Honda.

Paul Veazey from Middlesbrough won the Chris Herring cup for the most improved rider, plus the Geoff Crust Moto GP trophy (formerly the Grange Brothers cup) after being voted riders' rider of the year.

The 15-year-old had enjoyed a great season, finishing runner-up in the Aprilia 125cc Superteen series.

Scotton sidecar ace Greg Lambert took the Pete van Dijk shield for best international rider, along with the George Fogarty cup for best sidecar performance. His passenger, Neil Langrick from Leeds, was presented with the Blue Bar trophy.

Scarborough rider Jeremy Goodall took the Lee Pullan trophy for best national rider after success on his 250cc ZGT Yamaha in the MRO series, while 18-year-old James Brackenbury from Leyburn was awarded the Shell Gemini cup for best newcomer after his season in the ultra-competitive Junior Superstock class.

Hutton Rudby's Russ Hodgson returned especially for the presentation after a spell working in the Caribbean and promptly scooped the Steve Johnson memorial trophy for best performance by a NEMCRC member.

He had a fine season on the Castle Eden-backed Tillston's Honda 125.

Local commentator and club stalwart Tony Coupland, from Redmarshall - who compered the night's proceedings - was surprised to receive the Cartersport Merit Award for services to motorcycle sport over the past 25 years.

Club secretary Sue Symons, from York, took the supporter of the year trophy in recognition of her hard work in promoting and running the club.

Fellow York resident and former Manx Grand Prix winner Pete Turnbull won the Shell Oils shield as mechanic of the year.

l Dublin-based racer Dermot Carnegie leads the entries for tomorrow's opening round of the BRDA rallycross championship, organised by Darlington and District Motor Club at Croft.

The Irishman won the 2001 championship driving his Ford Focus WRC, which, with 650bhp on tap, is twice as powerful as the car used by world rally star Colin McRae. He goes into the new season aiming to capture a record-breaking fifth championship.

The opposition was tough last year, with four different winners in the nine events, but is likely to be even stiffer this season as Carnegie's leading rivals have all been busy improving their cars over the winter.

Last year's runner-up Pat Doran's Ford RS200 is bristling with 21st century technology and the Kent driver is pinning his hopes on improved electronic systems and better aerodynamics to give him an edge over Carnegie.

John McCluskey switched from rallying to rallycross just a year ago and finished third in the championship in a sensational debut season.

The Irishman has had both the chassis and engine of his Peugeot 306 re-worked in readiness for the new season and, after scoring five top three places without managing a win, is intent on climbing to the top step of the podium this year.

Others to win events last year were 2000 champion Lawrence Gibson and John Haffey. The two Ulstermen had wildly differing seasons, Gibson starting strongly before serious engine trouble in his Metro 6R4 curtailed his season, while Haffey returned to the sport mid-season after a four-year break and won in only his third start.

Haffey must be considered the favourite to win the Croft event as he was clearly the fastest driver on the revised track at last December's European Superprix event. He scored a clear victory after steering failure ended Doran's challenge.

Local hopes ride with Tony Bell, but the Ferryhill-based Toyota Corolla driver is not even sure that he'll be on the grid for his home event. Engine problems at the Superprix event turned out to be more serious than at first anticipated and have forced Bell to source a new cylinder block for the unique engine in his car.

"I want to be at Croft because it's my local track and also because the renovation work that was done there last year has made it one of the best tracks in Europe, but I obviously cannot go without an engine.

"If there are no problems we'll be there, but it will be a close run thing", said the former motorcycle racer.

In addition to the headlining Supercar category, the event will also feature the highly competitive Modified class for two-wheel drive cars, Minicross and the popular Stock Hatch category.

Southampton-based Stock Hatch champion Greg Rose is favourite in the class, which can feature as many as 45 starters, but will face stiff opposition.

Local ace Adrian Horsley will make the short trip from Redcar, aiming to repeat the speed which saw him win the class at December's Superprix event.

The event starts with practice at 9.30 and racing from 11.30. For more details contact Terry Wright on 07771 514285 or Croft circuit on 01325 721815.

l A full report on the Malcolm Wilson Rally will appear next week.