Michael Rutter settles for the top five

Michael Rutter and the Bathams-SMT Racing team were back in action for round seven of the British Superstock 1000 Championship.

They were hoping to make it three podiums on the bounce over the weekend. The Bridgnorth-based rider went quickest in Saturday's opening qualifying session.

It came around the Hampshire circuit in extremely warm temperatures, just in front of fellow BMW rider Ian Hutchinson.

With 10 minutes remaining of the second session, Keith Farmer took over the top spot as Taylor MacKenzie and Josh Elliott also went quicker, pushing 42-year-old Rutter back to fourth.

The race itself became a six-rider battle for the lead between reigning champion Josh Elliott, Hutchinson, Mackenzie, Farmer and Jenkinson, who were all within one second of each other.

Mackenzie held on for the win from Farmer and Elliott, as Rutter lost ground to finish fifth.

Rutter said: "I was stronger in the second half of the circuit and while I was lacking a bit of grip, it was the same for everyone.

"I tried my best and although it would have nice to have been on the box again, I wasn't far away and it's another strong top five finish."

The result leaves Rutter fifth in the championship, which moves on to Brands Hatch, August 5-7.

Newport's Tom Booth-Amos had a more difficult weekend in the British Motostar Championship, during a weekend riddled with crashes and set up issues.

The 19-year-old was taken out during the first race and then finished 10th in his class for race two, leaving him fourth in the Moto 3 table. The series also moves on to Brands.

Highley rider Louis Dawson continued his progress at the weekend in the Ducati TriOtpions Cup.

The 20-year-old qualified in eighth and showed his confidence, riding smoothly against some aggressive moves to finish sixth.

Race two on Sunday was going in the right direction as Dawson moved into fourth, just over a second behind race leader Rob Guiver.

He crashed on lap seven on one of the fastest parts of the track, but was unhurt. Dawson said: "I learnt a lot from the front five guys this weekend.

"Unfortunately, we were always going to be on the back foot due to not racing there before.

"We know we're competitive with the front-runners and they know we're here not to make numbers up. We'll keep pushing for that top spot."

Dawson sits sixth in championship, which moves to Cadwell Park for round five, August 27-29.

Three podiums at Thruxton saw Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze, racing under Bridgnorth-based Team E-aide, retake the British Sidecar Championship lead.

Fresh from his victory at the Southern 100 road races over on the Isle of Man, Reeves returned with a first, second and third during the three races.

Glennis Toms, from Bridgnorth, of Team E-aide Motorsport and Employers' Aide, said: "It was an exciting weekend and great to get the win in the last race and the lead back in the championship."

Shrewsbury's Rupert Archer and his Hannafin racing team qualified in seventh place in same championship with passenger Steve Thomas.

Archer was competing for the race win during the opener but eventually finished in fifth place.

Eighth place followed in race two followed by another fifth in Sunday's final race, behind winners Reeves and Cluze, moving them up to fifth in the sidecar championship.

Archer said: "We've had a really strong weekend and it's been good for the Hannafin team."

Round six of the British Sidecar Championship takes place Donington Park, September 16-18.