EXCELLENT results in the 125cc British National Championship by Christian Elkin, have been rewarded with a wild card entry into the 125cc class at the British Grand Prix.

Elkin will be competing against 30 of the best riders in the world including reigning World champion Manuel Poggiali and sharing the same pits and paddock of reigning 500cc champion Valantino Rossi at Donnington Park on July 11-14.

Elkin, riding for Malvern-based UK Racing has finished on the rostrum in the last five rounds of the British National Championship and gained three pole positions, these results have lifted him to second overall behind Chris Martin from York.

The last round was held on the eighteen month old £50 million circuit at Rockingham Speedway near Corby last weekend. The large crowd watched a thrilling race with Elkin taking the lead on lap two of the 15 lap race but chased very hard. He held a 0.4 second lead up until the last lap when he made his one and only mistake of the race three corners from the flag when he went in too deep, this allowed Chris Martin to take the lead. He fought back through the last two corners to the flag but was just beaten into second position by 0.08 seconds. His one consolation was he set a new 125cc lap record.

The next round of the championship is being held this weekend at Knockhill in Scotland only five days before the GP giving Nick Carpenter and the team a very short time to prepare the engines for the longer qualifying sessions and the race at the Grand Prix.

UK Racing's Nick Carpenter said: "This will be a very expensive week costing in the region of £2,500 for tyres, fuel and engine spares alone. If there are any local companies that feel they can help Christian we would only be too pleased to hear from them. We can be contacted on (01684) 574937."