NORTHALLERTON teenager Drew Bellerby continued her impressive season on Monday at Lydden Hill, in Kent, where she did her championship chances no harm at all with a win in the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship.

The 17-year-old fended off a strong challenge from the half dozen drivers in the A final to bring her Sayers Road Tankers and Fuchs Titan Race Suzuki Swift home in first place and extend her lead at the head of the championship going into the final round at her home track of Croft next month.

Third home was Richmond’s Thomas Constantine, in only his second meeting in the CBS-backed Swift, while 16-year-old Stockton driver Jennie Hawkes produced her best drive of the season to claim fourth place in her Hawkes Fire-sponsored Swift.

In the MSA British Rallycross Championship Supercar class, Leeming’s Kevin Procter claimed a superb pole position in his Procter’s Luxury Coaches-sponsored Ford Fiesta before enjoying a great battle with Irishman Ollie O’Donovan in the A final. Despite his best efforts, Procter missed out on the victory by half a second as torrential rain fell throughout the day.

Barnard Castle driver Mark Watson put his recent run of bad luck behind him when he took his Mend-A-Hose-sponsored Citroen Xsara to third place in the B final, claiming 10th overall in the Supercar class.

In the MSA SuperNational category, Tynesider Gareth Wood put in a superb performance in his Ford Ka to claim second place in the A final, while Northallerton’s Paige Bellerby did a great job of mastering the treacherous conditions in her powerful Sayers/Fuchs-backed Lotus Exige to qualify for the A final, in which she finished eighth.

There was more success for the region when Ripon brothers Keifer and Kris Hudson claimed a one-two in the BMW Mini final, with Stockton driver Martin Hawkes, recovering from a recent injury, in fourth, just ahead of Ferryhill’s David Bell.

In the Suzuki Swift Championship, Teessider Andrew Hawkes took second place in the C final and Newcastle driver Michael Boak drove well to finish second in the Super1600 final in his Citroen C2.

INGLETON brothers Daniel and Matthew Thompson enjoyed another great result when they took their Peugeot 205 to a class win on last weekend’s Pendragon Stages at Warcop, in Cumbria. The pair finished 23rd overall on the fast military ranges to take the 1300cc class win and beat a number of more powerful cars.

Consett’s Barry Renwick and co-driver Steve Dargan brought their 2.5-litre Ford Escort home 11th overall and sixth in class, five places ahead of Mickleton garage proprietor Alistair Hutchinson and Barnard Castle co-driver St John Dykes in their LPG-powered Renault Clio.

Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson suffered a torrid time in the Millington-powered MG S2000 he was sharing with Tynesider Paul Hughes to come home in 22nd place, while Staindrop’s Colin Butler and Mickleton co-driver Joe Hutchinson finished 39th overall on their return to four-wheel drive power in their Subaru Impreza.

Three crews didn’t see the Penrith finish ramp as Durham pair Kev Monaghan and Phil Boyle suffered brake problems with their Ford Escort Maxi on the opening stage and Durham’s David Coatsworth and Pickhill co-driver Chris Pattison succumbed to engine problems in their MG ZR on SS5. Stockton driver George Scott, accompanied by Pickhill’s Kari Bates, retired his Mitsubishi on SS6 with a misfire.

REDCAR Bears speedway team were in action again last week, still without the injured Lasse Bjerre, Stuart Robson and Adam Roynon, all of whom have been ruled out for the rest of the season.

They were also without Jonas B Andersen for Friday’s home match against Sheffield Tigers as he was committed to ride for his other club in Denmark.

Going into the final heat, the Bears required a 5-1 score to draw the match, but they only managed to score three points, making the final score Bears 43 Tigers 47.

FREDDIE Spencer, one of the greatest motorcycle racers of recent times, will visit Northallerton on Wednesday evening to take part in a fundraising chat show organised by the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club.

The American won the 500cc World Championship in 1983 and recorded an unprecedented double when he won both the 250cc and 500cc world titles in 1985.

"Fast Freddie", as he is known to his legions of fans, will visit the Golden Lion Hotel Yorkshire Suite to take part in the chat show, starting at 7.30pm. There will be a raffle and an auction, to include a signed picture of the late Steve Hislop, as well as autograph and photograph opportunities, with all proceeds going towards helping local racers.

Tickets cost £12 at the door (discounts for members). For further information, visit nyrrsc.net.