CALLOW Hill's Jason Wilshaw put himself in prime position for the Classics Club Post Classics Championship with his first series win at the weekend.

With the superbiker's arch rival Mark Pinkney ruled out by injury, Wilshaw won round six at Croft to go top of the championship table.

Wilshaw has been on Pinkney's coat tails for the opening five rounds and went 17 points clear on Saturday after picking up 20 points for the win.

Pinkney suffered a high-speed crash at the international Post TT at Mallory writing off his first choice machine and mangling his left foot.

Amazingly he tried to qualify at Croft but pulled out after finishing 19th and announced he would be recovering until the last two or three rounds.

Wilshaw qualified third and despite falling off on an untimed session half an hour before the race, finished strongly, nine seconds ahead of the field after the 20-lap race.

The Callow Hill star was aiming to bank more championship points on round seven on Sunday but was forced to retire while leading the race when his carburettor fell off.

"It was disappointing to pull out because it was the first mechanical failure I've had for four years," said Wilshaw.

"We had to strip the bike after the first race because I had gone into the gravel and I had not tightened the carb enough.

"But I was back to my old self on Saturday and it was great to get the first win.

"The fact Mark was not competing took the pressure off and now I have a real chance at the championship.

"I need a couple of third places at Snetterton at the weekend to give me a cushion for when Mark returns."

Wilshaw has the chance to cement his lead at the East Anglian track with round eight on Saturday and round nine on Sunday.

n ASTWOOD Bank ace Andy Tinsley has given up on the Superstocks Championship being dogged by problems on his new GSXR 1000 Suzuki in the opening four rounds.

With a new tyre compound at Brands, superbiker Tinsley finally returned to last season's form with an eighth place finish.

And now he is out to make up for lost time and says a top ten finish on the leaderboard is still possible.

"Unfortunately Paul Young has won every round so far and has an unassailable lead," said Tinsley.

"But I want to get back into the top ten so the season is not a complete waste."

The Tin Man continues his rescue mission at Thruxton on Sunday.

n REDDITCH outfit Team Legs Eleven are out to put their Brands nightmare behind them on Sunday.

Young rider Tristan Palmer is under orders to recapture his top ten form after mechanical problems saw him limp home 21st in the last meeting.

And the high-profile team have been boosted by the support of Redditch firm Hytera.

The town company rebuilt Palmer's £3,000 exhaust system before the last race and have joined as permanent sponsors of the high-speed outfit.