Coutts scrapes paint to keep podium promise.

Padgett's 125cc rider Daniel Coutts was determined to land a podium finish in his debut National Championship year and he achieved it with a third place at Mallory Park last weekend in one of the most exciting 125 races of the season.

Proving that it's not only Touring Cars that swap paint during races, Coutts' Honda RS125 bore testament to a race that never saw more than 3 seconds covering the first eight riders.

"125 racing is always close, but that was something else!" reported the 15 year-old afterwards, "I was sixth going into the last lap but I knew that we all had a chance of finishing in the top three so I just kept my head down and tried to keep as much speed as possible through the corners and it paid off!"

Padgett's team-mate Leon Camier was also in the thick of the action, getting as high as second place before being forced wide in one of the many last minute braking manoeuvres that punctuated the race.

"I was pleased at the start because both Dan and I were in the leading group of five riders and we were starting to pull away but then the pace car came out," said 2001 British 125cc Champion Camier, "that meant the others caught up again and when the race re-started it was just mayhem for the next twenty laps. Races like that can be a bit of a lottery and unfortunately it wasn't my turn for the luck today, but fair play to Dan, he rode really well and deserved his podium. I'll just have to make sure I'm at least one step above him at Donington!"

Team Manager Clive Padgett was looking forward to the next race at Donington in two weeks time. "After today's performance I reckon there's a definite chance of a 1-2 at Donington! To keep your head and make sure you're at the front when it matters after so many position changes showed an incredible level of maturity on Dan's part.

"Leon was unlucky today, but that's the first time he's been beaten by his team-mate and you can be sure he'll be doing his best to make sure it doesn't happen again!" added Padgett.