Battle scarred Billy fights on at Hawkstone.

Much to everyone's surprise, Yamaha Dixon's 125cc star Billy MacKenzie was back in action on Sunday only eight days after dislocating his ankle while competing at the Grand Prix of Europe.

"Billy has been suffering a lot of pain since dislocating his ankle last weekend in Germany, he really shouldn't be riding but he doesn't want to give up his hopes of the championship so early in the season, he wanted to ride and we are here to support him," stated Team Manager Steve Dixon.

Mackenzie spent all the previous week with top motorcycle physio Brian Simpson, who helped repair Billy's dislocated shoulder one month ago.

Undergoing two, one-hour sessions twice a day, Mackenzie has been getting as much treatment as possible, having session after session in the oxygen chamber, magnetism and laser treatment.

"Brian has tried his hardest to get me back on a bike, from what it was on day one to what it is now is remarkable, a real achievement, he understood that I needed to get back on a bike as soon as possible," said Billy, "Brian was treating a lot of other guys alongside with me, it was a bit of a motocross riders fest there at times. Finally the option he gave me was that I couldn't harm the injury but I would have to suffer the pain so I have been grabbing pain killers by the handful and just grinned and baring it."

The Hawkstone Park circuit can be one of the most demanding in the eight round championship, but the normally rough sand track was smooth for qualification, allowing Mackenzie to settle for a decent time during the early morning session and save himself for the races ahead.

"I did one fast lap and got passed by Lewis Gregory, I did another which gave me 22nd and then I came straight back to the race truck. I didn't want to ride too much, just do enough to make sure I was in the race," he explained.

To aid Mackenzie's cause, Team manager Steve Dixon and Mick Whitlock made a special foot peg (pictured), which was used to support Billy's injured right foot by welding two-foot pegs together.

As the line up of 40 riders sped away for the opening 125cc Championship race, MacKenzie made a poor start but riding tactically he pulled through to 4th with a few laps, started to build up on that.

"I had pressure the whole race from Ollie Sandiford-Smith, he was riding very well, I just couldn't jump properly, I didn't want to put my foot down in right hand corners and then at the top Hawkstone Hill I spun out and fell," recalled Billy.

The fall was only the beginning of his problems as he then had to firstly pick up the machine, then kick start the notoriously temperamental four-stroke. Once started, Mackenzie would finally finish the race in 20th position, with a single point for his efforts.

Starting race two in a much better position, the young Scot found himself second behind American Jeff Dement in the opening stages, before fading slightly to a still remarkable fourth.

"I had the red mist come over me and I wanted to pass (Dement) to go for the win, I decided to leave it for a few laps and try again. Again every time I over jumped I had pain so I decided to play it cool and just ride for points," admitted Billy. "Sword came by me, I was riding on the smoothest line as possible, I didn't mean to let him past me but he came up the inside and passed me clean. I was happy to take fourth but knew that if I had any sense I should miss the Maxxis Cup as the track was getting very rough."

Mackenzie would ultimately not start the Maxxis race, where the top 125 and Open class competitors are combined, in order to save his foot further aggravation.

"I might miss Culham to prepare for the GP's but I won't know for another week or so to see how well I make progress. This is a six week injury, working together with Brian we got it ready within a week but I realise I wasn't racing at my full capability. I want to go out there and fight Sword for the win, I want to race, it's not the same buzz finishing 4th but I have salvaged some points which might help me later in the season," said Mackenzie.

"Billy rode with a lot of pain killers, and rode very well in both races to come away with 24 points," stated stated Team manager Steve Dixon. "After the heavy rain I decided it was best not to let him ride in the Maxxis Cup as the ruts were much deep and the track very slippery due to the rain. He now has a few weeks to prepare for the next rounds which might give the healing process a helping hand."