Andy Hayes

HULLAVINGTON racer Andy Hayes picked up two third place finishes at Brands Hatch at the weekend.

He now moves four points clear into second place overall in the NG Road Racing Championship.

He said: "It went very well. I got two solid third place finishes on a track I've never ridden on before, and briefly held the class lap record until it got broken again later in the day by another rider."

Hayes has finished on the podium at the last seven rounds, but the all-elusive first win still evades hime.

He added: "It should really have been two second places, but a new rider Dan Frear turned up from the semi-professional Yamaha R6 Cup series and he came from the back of the grid to win outright, even beating those on the 1000cc bikes.

"I did, however, manage to catch and pass the runaway leader Stuart Holloway on three occasions and although I didn't stay in front until the end of the race, it's the first time anyone has passed him all season (Dan Frear aside).

"Now that I am second in the championship I will be sharing the front row of the grid with Stuart at the next round, so we can expect more sparks to fly from now on."

It could have been quite a bit different though, as at one stage Hayes lost the front wheel at about 90mph going down the infamous Paddock Hill Bend, but managed to save it somehow. The next round is at Pembrey, South West Wales on July 7 and 8.