DARREN Barton clinched the British 125cc Supercup in a dramatic shoot-out at Donington Park.

Needing a podium place to be certain of the title, the Hoddlesden racer finished second despite a controversial incident with Chris Burns.

"It's fantastic to win the title, but I'm relieved as well, because I was beginning to feel the pressure," said Barton after the race.

"The bike kept on cutting out and I was praying it would get me to the finish."

Barton, who led part of the 20-lap race, was lucky to get to the chequered flag, after being side-swiped by his rival Burns, riding the RCD Motorsport of Burnley Honda.

Going through the newly-named Foggy Esses, Burns clipped Barton's Honda, forcing both riders off line.

Luckily, Barton managed to kept his bike upright, while Burns ended his race in the gravel.

Barton drew a huge cheer from the 25,000-strong crowd when he appeared on the victory podium - wearing a Indian chief's headgear!

"Everyone always calls me Chief, so my mum borrowed it from a fancy dress shop in Darwen especially for the occasion," he said. Burnley's Neil Hodgson ended in British Superbike season the way he started it - with a win.

Hodgson, who won the Brands Hatch opener back in March, bounced back from a crash in the first 20-lap race to take victory on his INS Ducati. team mate Troy Bayliss won the overall championship.

British 125cc Championship - Round 12 (17 laps): 1 K Tibble Rheos Honda 33mins 10.527secs 76.86mph, 2 D Barton Helphire Honda 33:10.547, 3 S Patrickson Howell Honda 33:11.268 Final standings: Barton 205, Patrickson 192, A Green 150

Motor Cycle News British Superbike Championship - Round 12, Race 1 (18 laps): 1 C Walker (Gbr) Kawasaki 33mins 17.467secs 81.10mph, 2 N Mackenzie (Gbr) Virgin Yamaha 33:17.797, 3 J Reynolds (Gbr) Red Bull Ducati 33:36.864 Race 2 (18 laps): 1 N Hodgson (Gbr) INS Ducati 28mins 39.137secs 94.23mph 2 Bayliss 28:49.147, 3 S Emmett(Gbr) Red Bull Ducati 28:56.405 Fastest lap: Hodgson 1min 34.220secs 95.52mph Final Standings: Bayliss 394, Walker 366, Reynolds 357, Hodgson 301

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.