REIGNING European Superstock champion James Ellison, of Kendal, increased his chance of retaining the title with a magnificent winning ride at Oschersleben at the weekend.

Starting from fifth on the grid on his Highgate Carpets Borg-DC backed Honda CBR900 with series rival Tortoroglio on pole, he knew he had work to do but said: "To be honest, I don't mind starting from there, it livens things up."

Halfway around the first lap, he had taken the lead and was never seriously threatened.

"The guys behind me kept the pressure up, but I knew that I could keep my pace high and as my tyres started to wear, I knew that theirs were going off as well."

The win gives him a 16-point lead in the championship with two rounds remaining

Team owner, Stand Williamson said: "James rode with a real maturity and as ever, he's been professional and committed all weekend.

Things are looking good for the rest of the season."

This weekend the championship moves to Assen and South Lakeland District Council has chipped in with a grant to pay his entry fee.

Meanwhile, at the Brands Hatch round of the British motorcycle championships his brother Dean Ellison grabbed a podium finish in the privateers' superbike class.

He qualified the D & B Racing team's Honda VTR1000-SP1 on the fourth row of the grid but during the Sunday morning warm-up as Dean peeled into Surtees bend at over 100mph the bike engaged a false neutral, the bike skewed sideways and pitched him into the air.

Thankfully Dean was not hurt and team mechanics were able to repair the bike in readiness for the first race.

As the chequered linen fell on race one Dean had done enough to secure second place and 20 championship points

Midway through race two Dean held third position some four seconds down on the second placed rider.

Lap by lap he closed the gap but as the flag dropped just failed to get past, by just seven thousandths of a second.

Now third in the championship Dean plans to consolidate that position as the series moves into the final three rounds.