Southampton road-racer John Crockford feared his career had run up a blind alley when his Superbike team folded in the new year.

When their sponsors pulled out, Race Trucks Yamaha pulled out of the British Superbike Championship leaving the talented Crockford without a ride in 2003.

But the Bitterne-based race ace has landed on his feet after signing up for the long-established Padgett team in the British Supersport Championship.

Crockford rode a Suzuki for Padgetts team in last year's Superbike series and did so well in a guest appearance at Thruxton that they made overtures at the end of last season.

When Crockford accepted an offer from Race Trucks to ride in for their satellite Virgin Yamaha team, he assumed that he had burned his bridges with the Yorkshire-based Padgett outfit.

He admitted: "When my Superbike ride went belly-up there was another option with Manor Power in Superbike but they ran into sponsorship problems too. I think money, or the lack of it, has been a general problem with the Superbikes through the winter and the grid is looking pretty thin for 2003.

"But luckily for me my one last avenue, to Padgetts, hadn't been closed.

"They had decided to run a pair of 600 Hondas in the Supersport Class with a view to maybe getting back into the world championship in a couple of years.

"So out of adversity for me has sprung some real hope.

"They hope to get a wildcard entry into both British rounds of the world championship this year at Silverstone and Brands Hatch so that would be a fantastic experience for me.

"There are plans for a G2 class in the world championship in 2005 and Padgetts want to be involved. So that's a tremendous incentive."

Crockford, with two top three finishes in the national superstock championship over the last two years, will team up with former British 250 champion Adrian Coates on a new CBR600RR.

And the Southampton rider has been quick to get to grips with the new bike, setting quickest time in the first of the test sessions at Donington last weekend.

"Although it lacks the power of the Suzukis I have ridden in the past, the Honda has a fantastic chassis," says Crockford.

"It handles like a dream. It will demand a different kind of riding technique but I'm sure I'll get used to it."

Among his main rivals in the first round at Silverstone on Sunday will be his former Crescent Suzuki teammate Karl Harris, now riding a factory Honda.

There's big Southampton interest in the class with Chrysalis Racing from Swanwick running former British champion John McGuinness.

Hampshire also has a strong runner in the Superstock Championship with Jamie Morley from Waterlooville again aboard a Suzuki in one of the leading teams and looking to end Yorkshireman Dave Jefferies' two-year reign as champion.