MORECAMBE motorcycle racing ace John McGuinness was greeted at a sunny Mallory Park last Sunday by an ever growing army of family, friends, sponsors and fans as the gripping British Supersport Championship reaches a thrilling climax.

John's main local sponsor Brian Warren, a Heysham-based plumbing business, said: "Our investment in John is being well rewarded as he continues to come up with the goods as this titanic struggle for the title comes to a head.

The weekend racing evolved into a ferocious scrap between John and championship leader Karl Harris on the Suzuki.

Having qualified first and second on the grid John said, "Tomorrow's race is gonna be all action. We'll be swapping paint out there," and so it was.

McGuinness and Harris simply cleared off in the race head and shoulders quicker than the other competitors. McGuinness hounded Harris relentlessly until a false neutral at the 'bus stop' gave Harris the break he needed to clinch victory, despite John getting the fastest lap again!

The win gives Harris a 12 point lead over John's teammate Kirk McCarthy with John a mere three points behind him. The penultimate round is at the new purpose-built Rockingham circuit on Sunday, September 30, with the championship finale at Donington Park a fortnight later.

After the race John said: "I'm pleased with that considering I had a few big slides and the bike was hitting false neutrals, so I decided to bring it home for a safe second.

There's all to play for in the last two rounds and it is bound to go down to the wire.