AFTER a year of frustration, Guisborough racer Dennis Hobbs is back in love with his bike.

The 23-year-old has swapped the British Superbike Championship for its Supersport equivalent and couldn't be happier.

Although a collision put paid to his hopes of a podium finish at the opening race of the season at Brands Hatch at the weekend, Hobbs is excited about his title prospects with the Padgetts Honda outfit.

Last year, Hobbs was with the Nvidia Yamaha Superbike team, but injury problems and a far from competitive piece of kit made for a year of disappointment.

His fortunes changed, however, when he was approached by Clive Padgett with a view to racing for his team this year on the bike that Leon Camier rode to victory in last season's championship.

"Towards mid-season last year, with the way things were going, I wasn't enjoying my racing any more," Hobbs said. "I was at the point where I didn't want to turn up.

"I had the test on the Padgett's Honda before Christmas and since then I have started to enjoy racing once again.

"The machinery I have been given is absolutely fantastic, the mechanics do what you want...it's chalk and cheese from last year. Then I was promised the world, was supposed to be getting everything and delivered nothing.

"This year, I am getting everything I need.

"Padgett's had several people asking for riders, but Clive himself said that out of all the riders out there I am the only one capable of retaining the championship for them."

Hobbs qualified on the front row of the grid at Brands and got off to a great start.

"After the first lap I was running in third place and Leon Camier collided with me coming towards the start-finish straight," he said. "He hit the side of me and damaged the gear linkage on the bike. After that I was struggling with the gears."

After a few laps of yo-yoing up and down the order, Hobbs' linkage snapped and he was forced into the pits.

"We changed it and I went back out on the track about five laps down," he said. "Despite that I was the quickest rider out there, with the conditions deteriorating. I put in the fourth quickest lap of the race."

Hobbs is now looking forward to the next race, at Donington Park, and is confident of building on his showing at Brands.

"I am in the best condition ever and I am probably the best prepared I have been at the start of a season," he said. "I didn't score any points or get on the podium but I was running at a comfortable pace, so it all bodes well for the rest of the year."

* Formula One has moved a step closer to resolving the dispute which threatened its future after five manufacturer-backed teams entered the 2008 championship.

A rebel group of five manufacturers - Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and Renault - had refused to sign up to the sport beyond 2007 in a dispute over rules and money.

Max Mosley, president of world governing body the FIA, gave the rebels a week-long window in which to enter the 2008 championship - and earn a say in how the rules are shaped.

That was due to expire on March 31 and, as expected, they have lodged their entries, with the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association, which represents their interests, confirming that move.

Their entries do not spell an end to discussions over the future of Formula One, with the rebels, the FIA and commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone still needing to thrash out details of an agreement.

A commercial resolution with Ecclestone is expected soon while talks over the rules can begin in earnest now.

The FIA are expected to announce the 2008 entry list next month.

Published: 28/03/2006