North Yorkshire motorcycle racer Russ Hodgson marked an impressive debut in the brand new Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup with a superb top ten placing in the opening round at Silverstone on Sunday.

The 21-year-old from Yarm - who will feature in a TV Documentary about the series later in the year - was making his four stroke debut after a number of seasons riding in the 125cc class and immediately took to the 600cc machine, which are all prepared to identical standards.

He posted ninth best time in qualifying to start the 16-lap race from row three but as soon as the lights turned to green for the race, he slotted into the top half dozen.

However, an opening lap crash involving another rider brought out the pace car for three laps and as soon as racing recommenced, Hodgson was engaged in a titanic battle with a host of other young riders as they vied for the leaderboard places.

Without the experience that many of his rivals gained in last season's Junior Superstock which was run to a similar format, Hodgson gamely hung on to clinch ninth position at the flag, less than a quarter of a second down on the rider in front of him.

Round two of the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup takes place at Snetterton on April 13.

Result: 1 P Ward 26:32.231; 2 T Hill 26:32.849; 3 B Cockerill 26:40.032; 4 K Clarke 26:47.503; 5 V Cox 26:47.904; 6 R Connolly 26:48.307; 7 K Bryce 26;49.853; 8 R Holmes 26;50.277; 9 R Hodgson 26;50.492; 10 O Bridewell 26:54.407; 11 J Page 27;03.414; 12 J Hillier 27;03.417; 13 M Buckles 27;03.936; 14 C Ogden 27:08.871; 15 A Bailey 27:14.794; 16 A Czyzewski 27:19.448; 17 C Polden 27:43.971; 18.M Carter 27:50.038; 19 M Jessopp 27:53.610; 20 B McFeeley 27;56.559; 21 R Richards 28:03.479.

Points: P Ward 25, T Hill 20, B Cockerill 16, K Clarke 13, V Cox 11, R Connolly 10, K Bryce 9, R Holmes 8, R Hodgson 7, O Bridewell 6, J Page 5, J Hillier 4, M Buckles 3, C Ogden 2, A Bailey 1.

North East Motorcycle Racing Club

The club hold their first motorcycle race meeting of the season at Croft Circuit a week tomorrow.

This meeting incorporates the second round of the National Formula 2 Sidecar championship and local contenders for this title include Bedlington Brothers Ian and Geoff Bell, Cramlington's Jimmy White and Killingworth's Mike Stewart.

The event is the first round of the club's championships and the main event will be the Mac Hobson Trophy. All classes will complete the programme, from 125cc to unlimited including the popular Sound of Thunder class. Practice begins at 9.30am with the first race 11.30am and entry is free for kids under 15 accompanied by an adult.

l The North East Motor Cycle Racing Club meets every Thursday at the Tynemouth Motor Clubhouse, Billy Mill Lane, North Shields, from 9pm.