SCORTON’S Max Coates took a podium finish in the penultimate event of the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup to be crowned Graduate Cup champion at Silverstone last weekend.

In his first season in the class, the North Yorkshire driver put his Ciceley Motorsport Primex Plastics Ltd and PLASgran Recycling car on pole position in changing weather conditions in qualifying, with half a second covering the top 12 cars.

In the opening race, the 22-year-old didn’t get the best of starts and dropped back, but he only needed a top 10 finish to clinch the crown and fifth place at the flag secured the title with three rounds to spare.

The newly-announced BRDC Rising Star started third for race two, but again the outside line proved unfavourable and he dropped back to fourth. He was soon back into podium contention when another car pitted for a jump start penalty and, despite pressure from behind, Coates held on to take third place overall in the race and claim his 11th Graduate Cup win of the season.

The series returns to the Brands Hatch circuit, in Kent, for the final round of the season next weekend, when Coates’ focus will be on trying to secure a top three placing in the overall Renault Clio Cup Championship.

THE MotoDex Performance First BMW team looks to finish the season on a high by making its road racing debut with Stockton’s Daley Mathison this weekend, when the TT podium finisher and the Sheffield-based team contest the prestigious Steve Henshaw Gold Cup at Oliver’s Mount.

Having sat out most of the BSB season, team owner Tony Dexter will finally get to realise his roads ambitions as he runs his BMW S1000RR Superbike at the iconic Scarborough track. Backed by Eddie Stobart, the team will run as Stobart by MotoDex BMW for both the Gold Cup and the upcoming Stars of Darley event.

Mathison joins the team following his most successful year to date. The current Moto E champion, he looks set to lift the title again this year, but perhaps his best achievement so far this season was finishing third in the Isle of Man TT Zero race. Having previously clocked up numerous podiums at Oliver’s Mount, Mathison, who is affectionately known as Daisy, tested the machine last week at Cadwell Park, so is hopeful of success this weekend.

THERE were mixed fortunes for local competitors who ventured to the Isle of Man to contest the 138.com Manx Rally, which took place over three days last weekend as a round of the MSA British and Historic Rally Championship.

Darlington’s Peter Ellerby and co-driver Phil Price were in action in the H1 class in their Morris Mini and got off to a great start on Thursday evening with a time well inside the top 100 cars and third in class out of the 150 crews in action. Throughout Friday and Saturday, the pair continued their good pace until reaching the Douglas finish ramp an impressive 74th overall and fifth in class after 20 arduous stages around the fast and classic Manx lanes.

But Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress only got as far as SS2 on Thursday night before the gearbox broke on the Proton S2000 he was sharing with Ollie Mellors.

AFTER a recent run of good results, Saltburn’s Davey Todd saw his hopes dashed in the Pirelli Superstock 600 race at Donington Park last weekend when an oil leak on his Morello Kawasaki during Sunday morning’s warm-up session saw him miss the race, ending any outside hopes of the title.

In the Pirelli Superstock 1000 race, Burnopfield rider Chrissy Rouse claimed seventh on his ECS/Mission Racing BMW, with Hutton Rudby’s Neil Bainbridge finishing just outside the points in 18th on his KLM/Hare Bulk Haulage Kawasaki.

Bedale sidecar passenger Stuart Ramsey guided John Holden to a podium finish in the Hyundai Heavy Industries British Sidecar Championship, as well as taking a brace of fourth places in the final round of the FIM World Sidecar Championship last Saturday.

REDCAR SG Petch Bears speedway team rode their last home Premier League match of the season last week against fellow strugglers Rye House Rockets, but it ended in disappointment as they went down 41-49.

A strong Rockets team, including international rider Edward Kennett, saw off the Bears challenge despite some good performances from captain David Bellego, quadruple heat winner Hugh Skidmore and Lasse Bjerre. It was tight right up until heat 13, but the Bears couldn’t muster the challenge needed and finished bottom of the league.

Thanks to the support of their partisan fans, who always turn out in droves, the team now looks forward to next season, with changes planned to improve the squad and challenge for honours at the Media Prima Arena.