CHRISTIAN Elkin, the reigning British GP 125 champion, who rides for Malvern-based e3 Motorsport, started on pole position for the second consecutive round of the British championships held at Mallory Park last weekend.

Christian had been in dominant form all through the two days' of practice and qualifying, having been in pole position for all four sessions throughout Friday and Saturday, unofficially breaking the lap record on each occasion. The team was even more pleased as Christian was using a new powervalve motor, only completed during the week prior to the event.

The race, held on the 1.35 mile circuit near Earl Shilton saw Christian in second position at the end of lap one of the 22-lap race. Christian held onto second position until lap seven, when he took the lead from young Bradley Smith going into Edwina's Chicane under braking. He was then joined at the front by Chris Jones, the HRC Honda Red Bull rider.

Jones briefly led for the next three laps before Christian went back to the front on lap 12. The last seven laps saw a brilliant duel between Christian and Dan Linfoot, not being separated by more than 0.25 seconds. Christian held onto his lead and at the chequered flag he won by 0.421 seconds from Linfoot, with Rob Guiver and Ashley Beach scrapping for third and fourth only 1.3 seconds adrift.

This result, his second win on the trot, hoists him to the top of the championship table with 63 points, with Kev Coghlan second (45) and Guiver third (44).

The next round is at Oulton Park, Cheshire, this weekend with the race on Monday.