John Crockford knows that success on his home Thruxton race track next weekend will be a first big step towards a much sought-after Superbike ride next season.

The Totton rider is racing for the top Verwood-based Crescent Suzuki team in the British Superstock Championship and, after a rocky start, got back in the groove at Brands Hatch last week.

A second place behind championship leader Paul Young was achieved after he spent a day at the Kent circuit looking and learning from former Superbike champion Niall Mackenzie who is now Crescent Suzuki's test rider and technical director.

"I'd been trying to ride it like a superbike and I was asking too much of the chassis and the tyres," said Crockford. "When I was with Niall at Brands I changed the suspension and he helped smooth out my riding technique. From now on I need to prove I am worth a place in the team for next season when Crescent Suzuki will be running two bikes in the British Superbike Championship.

"I know Thruxton well, I like the place and won there twice last year, so I'm confident I can give Young a good run for his money. He's well ahead in the championship but sooner or later his luck has to change."

Crockford has had scores of calls from fans who will be cheering him on at Thruxton where there will be strong local support, too, for Waterlooville's Jamie Morley who has gunned the MSS Performance Suzuki into second place in the championship.