Missed gear costs Coutts Thruxton win.

After starting from his first National 125GP pole position, Daniel Coutts narrowly missed out on his first win when he missed a gear on his Padgett's Honda in the final drag to the finish line at Thruxton on Sunday.

The Horsham schoolboy had been in dominant form all weekend and spent the whole race duelling with new championship leader Michael Wilcox.

The pair were in a class of their own, the only question being who would get the advantage on the critical final run through the chicane and over the finishing line.

Coutts said: "Going into the last lap I thought I'd missed my opportunity when I was held up as we passed a back-marker, but then Michael appeared to miss a gear and that put me back in the hunt. I had been consistently quicker through the chicane and coming out for the last time I managed to get alongside but then I missed a gear as well and that was it."

The sixteen year old continued, "it's frustrating to have come so close to my first win in this class, but it was a great race and I've been on the podium in both the races I've finished so far, so it can only be a matter of time. Last year I got a better result at Oulton than I did at Thruxton, so I'm hoping that will be the case again when we go there in two weeks time!"

Team manager Clive Padgett was delighted with the progress of his young rider: "You can see how much Dan's improving by the fact that he was 9th when he rode here for us last year. He may not have won, but pole position and fastest lap in the race show that he's capable of taking the crown this year."

National 125GP Championship - Result of Round 3, Thruxton:

1. Michael Wilcox - Honda
2. Daniel Coutts - Padgett's Honda +0.245s
3. John Pearson - Honda +5.046s
4. Lee Longden - Honda +6.270s
5. Paul Veazey - Honda +14.883s
6. Kris Weston - Honda +20.543s
7. Eugene Laverty - Honda +20.653s
8. Thomas Bridewell - Honda +20.875s
9. Sam Owens - Honda +27.041s
10. Chester Lusk - Honda +27.435s

Championship positions: 1. Michael Wilcox, 50pts; 2. John Pearson, 49 pts; =3. Thomas Bridewell, 36pts; =3. Danny Coutts, 36pts; 5. Christian Elkin, 30pts; 6. Chester Lusk, 28pts; =7. Paul Robinson, 24pts; =7. Kris Weston, 24pts; =9. Eugene Laverty, 20pts; =9. Paul Veazey, 20pts.