BURY St Edmunds-based teenager Elliott Banks-Browne came away with mixed fortunes from the British round of the MX2 World Motocross Championship on Sunday.

BURY St Edmunds-based teenager Elliott Banks-Browne came away with mixed fortunes from the British round of the MX2 World Motocross Championship on Sunday.

The penultimate round of the series was held on the infield of the famous Donington Park road-racing circuit and the 17-year-old Suzuki Swift team rider took to the track well after finishing tenth in his qualifying heat.

“I like the track,” said Banks-Browne after the qualifying session, “I was able to make some good passes in the first couple of laps, but then I settled down to ensure I didn't throw it away. I have had too many disappointments this year, and the first priority was to ensure I made the main race.”

Sadly those good intentions came to nought as Elliott was hindered by another rider on the opening lap of race one and was forced off track, collecting track marker fencing in his rear wheel which necessitated a long pit stop.

Banks-Browne said: “I had no chance of points after that, but I went out again to take a look at the track and was on the pace of the riders I was racing with.”

Optimism that he could score in race two soon disappeared as Banks-Browne failed to settle and had to withdraw mid-moto. A sad end to a weekend which had started promisingly.

His team-mate, American Sean Hamblin, had a tremendous weekend finishing 12th in race one and then 8th in race two.

He said: “I got my usual starts but I was gaining a place a lap until I got to 12th in race one.

“The pace was high today and there was a long gap to 11th. I managed to close it down but not enough to advance further by the chequered flag.

“I got one of my better starts in race two and had a great race to finish eighth. I was actually setting faster lap times than the leaders mid-moto and I was catching Aubin, who had won the first race and was one place ahead of me in this one.

“In the end I had to settle for that eighth place.”