A TANGLE with British champion Steve Hislop just 100 yards from the finish line robbed Kendal's Dean Ellison of a podium finish in the first race at the Oulton Park round of the British Superbike Championship.

After qualifying fourth in the Sunday Superpole Ellison was in fourth by lap 11 of Monday's first race and was holding off most of the established British riders.

He had moved up to third place and was trying to pass top rider Steve Plater, and at the same time keep out Hislop, when he lost the rear end and went down on the last corner. He was uninjured, but for race two had to take his second and less powerful D & B Ducati team bike for the second race where he finished a respectable seventh. Meanwhile, in Europe, his brother James had a successful weekend at Imola where he competed in the World Endurance title with Team Phase One.

James and his French teammate, Olivier Four, finished second in the gruelling 200-mile race.

May 9, 2003 13:00