V&M Racing bounce back.

After a disappointing weekend at Brands Hatch, the V&M Racing Team bounced back into contention for the British Supersport and Superstock championships, at the sixth round of the series at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire. And a brilliant performance by David Jefferies, saw him push his British Superstock championship rivals all the way to the chequered flag.

Yorkshireman Jefferies signalled his intention during Saturday qualifying, when he scorched into pole position on his V&M R1 Yamaha. But it was in Sunday's race that the reigning British Superstock champion gave the performance of his life.

For the whole of the eighteen lap race, Jefferies battled at the front of the field, with championship leader Paul Young and John Crockford and in the closing stages with all three riders side by side going into the final chicane a race victory looked like it could be on the cards. But Crockford had other ideas and muscled his way to the front when it mattered and Jefferies crossed the line just four tenths of a second behind.

"I can't be unhappy with that," said Jefferies. "At the start of the weekend we expected to at a disadvantage here, but the high speed circuit suited the V&M R1 Yamaha and I quickly found out that if I really committed myself to the corners I could carry more speed onto the straights and stay with them. It's nice to have been in a race again!"

The result moves Jefferies back into second place in the British Superstock championship, and moved him one step closer to achieving a race win. "It's been a good weekend for both myself and the V&M Team, and proved that contrary to paddock belief the Suzuki's are beatable. I'm still aiming to win one this season," he said.

Team mate Matt Llewellyn's efforts in the British Supersport 600 event mirrored Jefferies achievements. The Leicester rider, starting from third place on the grid, also finished in a close second place in the sixth round of the British Supersport 600 championship, on his V&M Racing R6 Yamaha.

In a race run at lap record pace, Llewellyn challenged Suzuki rider Karl Harris for the entire eighteen-lap distance, and planned to make his move for the win on the final lap. "I got a big slide at Seagrave corner on the final lap, and it cost me any chance of the win," he said. "It was a hot pace and I didn't want to be leading on the last lap, but after the slide I couldn't get close enough at the final chicane to make a pass."

Llewellyn's second place also moves him back into second place in the championship, just twenty-one points behind championship leader Kirk McCarthy. "The main thing is I've got my championship challenge back on course. That was our priority this weekend," he added.

Team principle Jack Valentine was equally happy to get the teams fortunes back on track. "We were looking to turn things around at Thruxton. It was important not to slip any further behind in the championships, and both riders showed what the V&M Racing Team is really capable of this weekend," he said.

RESULTS

British Supersport
1. Karl Harris (Suzuki); 2. Matt Llewellyn (V&M Yamaha); 3. Glen Richards (Honda); 4. Paul Young (Suzuki); 5. John McGuinness (Honda); 6. Kirk McCarthy (Honda); 7. Scott Smart (Suzuki); 8. Woolsey Coulter (Suzuki); 9. Gary May (Yamaha); 10. Simon Andrews (Honda).

British Superstock
1. John Crockford (Suzuki); 2. David Jefferies (V&M Racing); 3. Paul Young (Suzuki); 4. Glen Richards (Honda); 5. Dave Heal (Suzuki); 6. Jago Chapman (Yamaha); 7. Dave Johnson (Suzuki); 8. Kieran Murphy (Suzuki); 9. Chris Burns (Suzuki); 10. Jamie Morley (Suzuki).

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

British Supersport
1. Kirk McCarthy 116; 2. Matt Llewellyn 95; 3. John McGuinness 92; 4. Karl Harris 70; 5. Paul Young 58; 6. Scott Smart 53; 7. Woolsey Coulter 44; 8. Rob Frost 38; 9. Glen Richards 35; 10. Luke Quigley 28.

British Superstock
1. Paul Young 141; 2. David Jefferies 76; 3. Jamie Morley 68; 4. John Crockford 65; 5. Chris Burns 60; 6. Gary Mason 51; 7. Glen Richards 44; 8. Kim Ashzenazi 31; 9. Gus Scott 31; 10. Howard Whitby 30.